Murray north of canal under boil water advisory

MURRAY – Residents in the Murray north of the canal are being advised to boil their water for a minute due to the presence of E. coli bacteria during water samples earlier this week.

The town on Wednesday morning was informed that water samples on Monday and Tuesday tested positive for the bacteria. Two straight days with positive tests prompts a boil water advisory.

Town officials hand-delivered notices of the advisory to about 500 households north of the canal on Wednesday, said Ed Morgan, the town’s water and highway superintendent.

Highway workers have been flushing hydrants to get fresh water in the lines. Tests on Wednesday and Thursday haven’t shown bacteria, Morgan said. He expects to be given the OK on Friday morning that the boil water advisory can be lifted at noon.

The Highway Department, once the advisory is lifted, will hand-deliver notices to the 500 households.

E. coli can cause diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, and other symptoms.

The positive tests were found in the Murray hamlet. Morgan said that part of town is served by water coming from the Village of Albion through the Town of Gaines from the west, and the Monroe County Water Authority from the east.

The water doesn’t flow one way in that part of town, unlike in most water districts.

“It’s a good thing we sample,” he said. “Fortunately we caught it.”