Drinking water warning issued in Paonia
Justin Coons, Rocky Mountain News
Published August 8, 2007 at midnight
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Drinking water is off-limits in the small Western Slope town of Paonia, after an abnormal amount of turbidity has been discovered.
Residents have been advised to avoid drinking the water for at least eight more days. They have been advised to boil water for at least a minute before using it for other uses.
Turbidity is defined as cloudiness or haziness of water. It is caused by small organic materials becoming suspended in the water.
Although the organic materials may not be harmful, bacteria may attach to the particles, shielding themselves from chlorine sterilization and natural sterilization from ultraviolet light.
Drinkers of turbid water are succeptible to gastro-intestinal infections.
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