Clayton Water Customers Told to Boil Water

Until further notice, people should boil water for one minute to kill any disease-causing organisms, officials said. They also recommended that children less than 6 months old and pregnant women use bottled water because boiling concentrates any nitrates that are in the water.

Total coliform bacteria generally are not harmful, officials said, but their presence indicates that other, harmful bacteria might have got into the water.

Water should be boiled for all human uses, they said, including hand-washing.

Town officials confirmed that they had known Monday of the results showing bacteria in two of 15 regular testing locations. They said they thought of using a phone-tree notification system, but they conferred with state officials Tuesday and were told they should use a media alert instead, they said.

It was unclear why the announcement was delayed until about 5 p.m. Tuesday

Officials said they had flushed water lines and taken more samples Tuesday and were hoping that results on Wednesday would show the warning could be lifted.

“I am a big water drinker. I think the problem will resolve itself,” she said. “I've already had three glasses tonight. If it's going to get me, it's going to get me.”