Elk Creek in hot water with EPA over lack of E. coli monitoring

The Elk Creek Community Service District is facing fines for failing to monitor for Escherichia coli (E. coli) in the source water of their drinking water.

E. coli is a type of fecal coliform bacteria commonly found in the intestines of warm-blooded animals, including humans. Its presence in drinking water is an indication of recent sewage or animal waste contamination.

The Elk Creek Community Service District is one of 10 public water systems in Glenn, Alpine, Fresno, Humboldt and Trinity counties the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ordered Thursday to develop monitoring plans or conduct pathogen monitoring, as required by the federal Safe Drinking Water Act.

The monitoring plans are required of all public water systems that obtain water from a lake, river or well that is under the influence of surface water.

EPA officials said the small district is facing up to $32,000 in penalties for each day the district violates the order.

The plan, according to the EPA, is to prevent people from consuming water with Cryptosporidium, a waterborne pathogen that can cause gastrointestinal illness, which can be severe or fatal in people with weakened immune systems, such as infants, the elderly, people undergoing the treatment for cancer and AIDS.

Water systems with high levels of Cryptosporidium must provide additional protection, the EPA said, such as ultraviolet disinfection.

Elk Creek Community Services District officials could not be reached for comment.

Contact Susan Meeker at 934-6800 or smeeker@tcnpress.com.