Wenham Water Will Be Continue to Be Chlorinated

The Wenham Water Board and Water Department have heard a few complaints about taste of water since the boil water order last month.

Wenham water may not taste as good as it did before last month's boil water order for at least six months - if ever. To make sure there is no new E. coli in the water wells or distribution pipes, the Wenham Water Board for the first time is injecting sodium hydrocholoride into the water as an interim measure. That chemical bleaches the water, making it safe to drink. But it makes the water have a different taste and odor. Water Board Chairman Ernest Ashley and Board member Richard Quateman said Thursday night they had heard a few complaints about the taste of the water. Water superintendent Erik Mansfield said the water department had gotten a few complaints, “but not too many.” The water department does not know what caused the outbreak …

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Week in Review

The Top Five Stories From the Past Week

The week in review in Hamilton and Wenham, looking back at some of the top stories.

Here's a look back at the past week in news in Hamilton and Wenham, with the top five stories. 1. Wenham Boil Water Order Lifted After five days, the boil water order was lifted last week in Wenham. The order was put in place on Tuesday afternoon following the discovery of E. Coli in the water. Two back-to-back tests that were completely clean were needed for the boil water order to be lifted and that came last Saturday and Sunday. The Water Department was still searching for what caused the contamination, which may never be known. 2. Generals Football Stays Undefeated The excitement builds around the high school football team, which came off a bye week last week to dominate Bishop Fenwick with a 46-13 win at home on Saturday afternoon. It…

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Boil Water Order Lifted

Wenham residents should do a few things before using the water again.

The Department of Environmental Protection has lifted the boil order order for Wenham residents. Wenham residents can resume using Wenham public water without restrictions, said Town Administrator Jeff Chelgren. Results from the Friday and Saturday tests show that the water system is free of any “total coliform or E coli bacteria,” according to a press release from the town. In turn, the MassDEP has lifted the boil water order that has been in effect in Wenham since Tuesday. The town is saying residents should do the following: Residents are advised to "flush" their water following the lifting of a boil order in order to clear plumbing of potentially contaminated water. Flushing your household and building water lines includes interior and…

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More Bottled Water to be Handed Out Saturday as Boil Water Order Remains

The boil water order will remain in place in Wenham through at least Sunday after tests from Thursday came back showing total coliform bacteria in the water.

Wenham moved closer to lifting its boil water order on Friday but it will remain in place at least through the weekend. All 13 water tests from Thursday came back negative for E. coli but one was positive for total coliform bacteria – the boil water order will remain at least through Sunday. That was the word late Friday from Wenham Water Superintendent Erik Mansfield, who said a state official was also in Wenham on Friday to help in identifying the source of the contamination. The exaat source of the contamination remains unknown. The 1,100 customers on the Wenham Water Department system are being advised to boil the water for at least a minute before use. A boil water order was put in place on Tuesday afternoon when two water tests came …

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Robert Gates

12:21 pm on Saturday, October 8, 2011

The bottled water is all gone, as of 11:15 a.m.   more ›

Bottled Water Now Available in Wenham

Bottled water is now being offered to Wenham residents who are under the boil water order.

Bottled water is being made available to Wenham water customers on Friday and Saturday at the highway garage. Wenham water users have been under a boil water order since Tuesday afternoon after E. coli was detected in the water. There needs to be two consecutive tests showing the water free of E. coli before the boil water order can be lifted. The earliest that will happen is Saturday. The water will be made available on Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Wenham Highway Department garage on Grapevine Road. Wenham Water Superintendent Erik Mansfield announced on Friday at 8:28 a.m. that the water would be available both days. Anyone picking up water will need to show proof of residency. The Water …

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Wenham Boil Water Order Will Last into Saturday

Tests conducted of the Wenham public water supply on Wednesday showed the continued presence of E. coli, meaning the boil water order will be extended until at least Saturday.

The boil water order in Wenham will last through at least Saturday after E. coli was detected in water that was tested on Wednesday, according to Water Superintendent Erik Mansfield. Some of the tests conducted on Wednesday still indicated a presence of E. coli in the Wenham water supply, he said. The state Department of Environmental Protection requires two negative tests before it will give the OK for the boil water order to be lifted. “We’re going to be continuing it into Saturday,” Mansfield said late Thursday afternoon. The boil water order was put in place at 3 p.m. on Tuesday after E. coli was found in the public water supply, which services about 1,100 homes and businesses in Wenham. Water users are being told to boil the water for…

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