Boil Water Notice Lifted in Rhode Island After Negative E. Coli Test

WESTERLY, R.I. (AP) — A boil water notice has been lifted in Westerly, after new testing no longer showed the presence of the E. coli bacteria.

The Westerly Water Department lifted the notice on Friday, saying a problem well has been taken offline, and the entire system has been disinfected.

The water department serves people in Westerly and nearby Stonington, Connecticut.

E. coli bacteria signal the presence of fecal matter. It was detected in a routine sample taken on Monday.

The Rhode Island Department of Health had told people who use Westerly to boil water used for human consumption for at least one minute or to use bottled water.