Total coliform discovered in spring at Alex Caisse Park

Michelle Warren, The Chronicle, Willimantic, Conn.
·2 min read

Aug. 19—WILLIMANTIC — The spring at Alex Caisse Park was closed on Thursday after total coliform was discovered in the water.

It is the second time it was closed in less than a month.

Windham Water Works Superintendent Michael Turgeon said the original sample was taken on Tuesday and sent to Phoenix Environmental Laboratories in Manchester that day. " It had two colonies of total coliform," he said, noting that no E. coli was detected in the water. E. coli causes the following symptoms in humans: stomach pains and cramps, diarrhea, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and fever.

People travel from all over to fill up bottles of water for free at the spring, which is at 620 Jackson St.

" The people that go there typically use the spring because it's not chlorinated," he said. The spring water is tested weekly.

Total coliform is an indicator bacteria.

When discovered, the water must be further analyzed to determine if E. coli are present. According to the EPA, coliforms are generally bacteria that are not harmful and are commonly present in the environment.

The bacteria is often found in soil and the intestines of humans and animals. Turgeon said his staff took another sample Thursday and it could come back Friday, depending on how long it takes the lab to analyze the results.

It takes at least 24 hours for the lab to process samples.

Turgeon said he hoped they would get the results Friday afternoon so that the spring can be reopened in time for the weekend.

" We will probably call the lab at the end of the day," he said, referring to Friday. Windham Water Works staff will continue to test the water until the spring can be reopened. Turgeon said it is normal to detect total coli-

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form after a rainstorm, such as the one that hit the area on Tuesday.

The spring is natural and is not operated by Windham Water Works.

" The only thing we do is sample it as a courtesy for people and for the town," Turgeon said. Follow Michelle Warren on Twitter — @mwarrentc.