Marion Boil Water Order Lifted, Fairhaven Continues

After nearly two weeks, Marion and Rochester residents can drink their tap water again — but those in Fairhaven will have to keep boiling it first until further notice.

After E. coli bacteria was found at a Mattapoisett water treatment plant and in the water systems in Marion, Mattapoisett, Rochester, and Fairhaven, a boil water order was issued for the four SouthCoast communities on Oct. 6.

Since then, residents have been boiling their tap water before drinking or cooking with it, or for any uses that could result in them ingesting the water.

Get our free mobile app

E. coli is a fecal coliform bacteria found in animal intestines that causes illness.

It is especially dangerous for the elderly, the very young, or those with weakened immune systems.

Mattapoisett residents were the first to have their boil order lifted over the weekend, after officials flushed the water systems with chlorinated water starting at the treatment plant there.

Now, after water samples showed no coliform bacteria in their system on Monday, Marion and Rochester is following suit.

Residents are encouraged to flush the household water and change any water filters before using the tap water as normal.

Meanwhile in Fairhaven, samples collected Monday showed traces of coliform bacteria at two locations out of the 16 places samples were collected in the town.

The boil water order will therefore remain in place in Fairhaven until further notice.