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Science/Tech See other Science/Tech Articles Title: Abita's water may get chlorine ~ Test finds presence of contamination Abita Springs, a century-old town founded around the soothing and, some say, healing powers of its artesian water, may soon embark on what citizens have long considered near-blasphemy: chlorination. "Yep, we have fought the good fight . . . but it looks like we have lost the battle and we will have to chlorinate our municipal water supply," Mayor Louis Fitzmorris said. "I hate to say it, but this time I don't think we can avoid it." The latest threat to the town's treasured water is coliform bacteria. In October, state-mandated testing of water samples at a site near the town-owned cemetery showed that coliform bacteria exceeded the maximum level permitted by the state Department of Health. Town officials are at a loss to explain the presence of bacteria. "There was no water line break resulting from Hurricane Katrina. We found no evidence of pollutants getting into the water system. We have no evidence of contaminants in the water wells," Fitzmorris said. He said there is no emergency and no need to boil water. But the town, as required by state law, will publish a legal notice informing the public of the finding and it will warn that some people with severely compromised immune systems, infants and some elderly residents should consult a health care provider. "The law requires that warning. But we have no evidence of systemwide contamination," Fitzmorris said. Over the years, occasional talk of water chlorination has been met with derision in Abita, whose motto is "Where nature performs miracles." Surprisingly, the somber news delivered at Tuesday night's Board of Aldermen meeting brought no response from about 30 residents on hand. If the state orders chlorination, it will be no more than 2 percent and will not be noticeable, the mayor said. The town likely will start the process in about 30 days. Abita Springs received a letter of warning from the state based on the recent bacteria count and expects to get the chlorination order any day. The state on occasion has pressured the town to chlorinate its water at a minimum level because that is commonly done in municipal water systems, but the town successfully fended off those attempts. Now, Fitzmorris said he is convinced the inevitable has come. "About eight months ago, we called on our state legislative delegation to head off a state order and they gave in, but said if we got one bad sample, no more reprieve. This is it. I see no point in continuing the fight," Fitzmorris said. Coliform bacteria are usually not harmful but can serve as indicators of a more serious bacteria, Fitzmorris said. Follow-up testing, however, has revealed no hazardous bacteria, such as fecal coliform or E.coli. "While this one sample may be a fluke, I think because of our growth and resulting extension of water lines and increased usage, the state will come back soon and order us to chlorinate at a 2 percent level," the mayor said. The town has long had chlorinators, as required by state law, attached to wellheads. It is through them that the trace amounts of chlorine would be distributed through the system. The amount would be the same that Mandeville releases into its municipal water system. Abita Springs was founded in 1903, but for many years before that, the area was renowned for its spring water. The fountain in the town park attracted generations of families, including many from New Orleans and other communities on the south shore of Lake Pontchartrain, who would fill up jugs and bottles on a regular basis. Abita Springs Water Co. Inc., owned by Japanese investors and headquartered in Covington and New Orleans, does not buy its water from the town's water system and would not be affected by the anticipated state action.
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