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9-12-2023 10:56am
UPDATE: Aquarion Water Boil Water Order Has Lifted for Dover Main System Customers
Darlene Cancell
Editor
UPDATE: Aquarion Water Company and the Town of Dover have alerted Dover residents that as of 10:15 a.m. on September 12, 2023, the boil water order has been lifted for Dover Main System customers of Aquarion Water Company. A notice on the town's website, which repeats the company's notice to customers, states, "The results for the second round of water samples, collected on Monday, September 11, are consistent with the first round of water sample results and are bacteria free. If you have questions, please call Customer Service at 1-800-732-9678."
When in effect, the boil water order had affected approximately 500 customers.
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Editor's note: The below article, titled, Dover Customers of Aquarion Water Remain Under Boil Water Alert Due to Delay in Bacteria Testing, was published shortly before notice of the boil water order being lifted was received by Westwood Minute. Westwood Minute received the notice at 12:31 p.m. on September 12, 2023 and provides the above update, accordingly. The original article is retained below for reader information and reference.
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Dover Customers of Aquarion Water Remain Under Boil Water Alert Due to Delay in Bacteria Testing
(This article published 9-12-23 at 10:56 a.m. Please see top of this post for the update.)
Dashing the hopes of Aquarion Water Company (Aquarion) customers in Dover who may have hoped for an end to the boil water alert that has been in effect since Friday, September 8, 2023, on Monday evening, September 11th, Aquarion notified customers of its Dover Main System that the boil water order remains in effect.
"Due to a mishandled water sample by a state-certified lab, the required second set of sample results will not be available until Tuesday afternoon," said the water company in the update to its original advisory. Bacteria samples that test negative must be collected on two separate days for the boil water alert to be lifted. A second set of bacteria samples, and a potential lift of the order, had been expected on Monday afternoon.
In the meantime, the company has been restocking bottled water for affected Dover residents to pick up from the Town Garage at 2 Dedham Street in Dover. Aquarion states that about 2,000 gallons have been distributed so far, and asks that customers take only what is necessary to "ensure an adequate supply for your neighbors."
On Friday, September 8th, Aquarion notified its customers that while performing maintenance on a well, an unspecified emergency arose at one of three Francis Street wells, requiring the company to take the water sources and its treatment plant offline. The resulting loss of pressure in the drinking water system introduced the risk of bacteria entering the system, which could potentially include fecal coliform or E.coli.
The company stated that water pressure would be returning before Sunday. However, following adequate pressure in the distribution system, the company must collect samples for bacteria over two separate days, with both sets testing negative for bacteria, in order to have the boil water order lifted.
Updated 9/12/2023 at 1:34 p.m. and 12:40 p.m.
