Health officials take steps to prevent E. coli problems

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — Harrison County health officials are taking steps to avoid future E. coli problems. But the source of contamination that prompted a boil water advisory for much of the county is still a mystery.

According to a document obtained by The Exponent Telegram, the Clarksburg Water Board has decided to stop reprocessing used sample collection bottles and switch to shrink-wrapped, single-use bottles.

The document shows that four potential causes were investigated but ruled out: worker certification, sampling bottles, sabotage and inadvertent cross-connection.

A boil water advisory was issued April 9 after E. coli was found in four water samples. The advisory affected 48,000 customers countywide. It was lifted two days later for most of the affected areas.