The E coli bacteria that was discovered earlier this week in Rockford’s municipal water system has cleared out. People living in the Grand Rapids suburb will need to do some things around their house to make sure their families are safe.
People were told to boil their water and sponge bathe their kids earlier this week to avoid the nasty illness E coli exposure can cause. Six schools closed over safety concerns. Some restaurants closed voluntarily.
Lisa LaPlante is with the Kent County Health Department.
“We are now in the process of going back to all of the facilities and making sure that they’re ready and that they’ve done all the things that they need to do to reopen,” LaPlante said.
LaPlante says people need to flush their water systems at home – including water heaters, ice makers and garden hoses. Ice or food made when the water might have been contaminated by E coli, should be tossed.
“The best thing to do is to make sure you’re protecting yourself and your family from any kind of water borne illness and so if you do have something that was prepared in the last week and you’re not sure, when in doubt throw it out is our motto around here,” LaPlante said.
More complete guideline are available here.
She says no illness have been linked to the incident yet.
