Bacteria shows up in BexarMet well

Tuesday, 26,000 Bexar Metropolitan Water District customers will receive notices that one of the wells that provide their drinking water tested positive for E. coli on Oct. 5.

Because subsequent tests have shown no E. coli, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has determined there is no public health risk.

The samples were taken on Oct. 4. When tests returned positive the next day, more samples were immediately taken, and they all proved to be negative, said Rogelio Placencia, BexarMet's director of operations.

The wells are near the intersection of U.S. 281 and Loop 1604 on the North Side, and U.S. 90 and Loop 1604 on the South Side.

BexarMet is investigating how the samples became contaminated. The possibilities range from a leaky septic system to a mistake at the lab. It has added additional chlorine to the system as a precaution.

Normally utilities have 24 hours to notify customers of E. coli contamination, but BexarMet was granted an extension by the TCEQ.