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March 31, 2006

Water drama ends as boil advisory lifted

NORTH SMITHFIELD -- Residents are free to drink their tap water for the first time in more than three days, as state health officials have lifted advisories urging them to boil water before consumption.

Earlier in the week, authorities instructed 83 North Smithfield households serviced by the Blackstone, Mass., Water Department not to drink, bathe in, or even touch their water after a security breach at a public water tank.

Health officials determined Wednesday that the vandals -- three 15-year-olds broke in to the facility, according to police -- did not contaminate the water supply. But after flushing the system, there were concerns that bacteria might have infected the water.

Test results yesterday revealed no evidence of dangerous bacteria. Health officials said that things today are back to normal for the 83 North Smithfield households and 8,800 Blackstone residents.

Posted by Steve Peoples  at 9:30 AM | Permalink