WEST SPRINGFIELD – The water in West Springfield is now safe to drink, according to local officials, following a three-day boil water advisory.

The advisory took place on Oct. 9 as a precautionary measure after a valve connecting to the Birnie Avenue Tank was closed during construction work. The valve was not properly re-opened, causing the tank to drain. Because pressure loss puts water at risk for bacteria contamination, such as E. coli, the West Springfield Department of Public Works hand-delivered boil notices to residents in the affected areas – including portions of Prospect Ave., Birnie Ave., Bayberry Lane, Quarry Rd., Christopher Terr., Interstate Dr., William Franks Dr., Tiara Lane, Brittany Pl., Longfellow Dr., Sean Louis Cir. and Beauregard Terr.

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) – is the agency responsible for ensuring clean air, land and water throughout the Commonwealth – drafted the boil notices.

“In any event of this nature, the first phone call we make is to the DEP and then they work hand-in-hand with us through the whole thing. There’s levels of notification that are required, which is written out in all of the different requirements a water system has to follow,” said Director of Public Works Robert Colson. “When you get to a certain number of homes affected, you have to follow certain steps. The DEP drafted the boil notice that we gave to people and we distributed the notice. The boil order is a precaution, in case some bacteria got in somehow.”

The notice warned residents to bring their water to a rolling boil for at least one minute before drinking, and to throw away any ice, beverages or uncooked foods made with tap water before or on Oct.9. It also informed residents the valves were being reopened and that testing for bacteria was being conducted. T

he West Springfield Fire Department delivered a case of water to each of the customers affected, approximately 150, on Oct. 10.

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, loss of pressure in drinking water systems endangers public health because of the high potential for the introduction of contaminants through backsiphonage – which is caused by negative pressure from a vacuum in the supply piping – and through pipe joints and holes.

Because there were no leaks present within the piping in the affected area in West Springfield, there was little risk for contamination, explained Director of Public Health Jeanne Galloway.

“If the pressure goes too low, you could have the drawing in off something from the exterior if there are any gaps or breaks,” she told Reminder Publishing. “For this particular scenario, the risk of drawing in organisms was pretty low, particularly because we were quick in finding the situation and the fact that we did not have a breaks in any of the lines anywhere.”

The West Springfield DPW conducted multiple tests on the affected water, including tests for E. coli, which can cause diarrhea or severe abdominal cramps, and coliforms, a group of bacteria found in the digestive tracts of animals.

The test results came back clean and a new notice lifting the boil water advisory was delivered to residents on Oct. 12.

Colson said that, although there were no reports of foul odor or discoloring of the water during the advisory, it’s better to be safe and efficient when handling any scenario of this nature.

“Although there was nothing to worry about, we’re not happy we’ve inconvenienced people – that’s for sure. We pride ourselves on not having things like this happen and having people feel safe when they consume the water,” he said.