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E. coli Contamination Scare Costing Businesses In Brighton

BRIGHTON, Colo. (CBS4)- Residents and businesses in Brighton are anxiously awaiting test results in an E. coli scare that has people boiling their water or drinking bottled water.

All 34,000 people living in Brighton have been told to boil their water until further notice. Besides the inconvenience that precaution is costing businesses money.

Nearly all the bottled water has been stripped from the shelves of the King Soopers after customers rushed to buy it when the order from the city was announced Wednesday.

Some restaurants chose to close instead of trying to provide bottled water or boil all their water.

Other restaurants tried to think outside the box when it came to providing safe water.

"All the water we've brought in. We brought it from Commerce City. Dishes couldn't be washed so we took them over to Commerce City. We've been using paper plates and paper cups just to keep everything safe," said Qdoba Employee Carmen Molina.

Other restaurants opted to stay open and deal with the inconvenience.

"It's been so busy especially at lunchtime. Since everybody just comes out at lunch so it's good for us," said Tacos Y Salsa employee Claudia Ramirez.

People living in the town of Brighton are hoping the water they've already ingested doesn't get them sick.

"My son just came to visit me and he's been sick ever since he got here," said one Brighton resident.

Statement From The Colorado Department Of Public Health And Environment

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has issued a boil water advisory for Brighton residents due to the presence of total coliform and E. coli bacteria.

Residents should not drink tap water without boiling it first.

Residents should bring all water to a boil, let it boil for three (3) minutes, and let it cool before using, or use bottled water. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes and preparing food until further notice. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water.

E. coli are bacteria whose presence indicates the water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes. Microbes in these wastes can cause short-term effects, such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches or other symptoms. They may pose a special health risk for infants, young children, some of the elderly and people with severely compromised immune systems.

If residents experience any of the symptoms described above and they persist, they may want to seek medical advice from their health care provider.

General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.

Additional Resources

If you have any questions, please contact the Utilities Department at 303-655-2000 or visit http://www.brightonco.gov or check our Facebook or Twitter pages for more information. The City encourages residents to pass along this information to fellow residents within the Brighton service area.

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