Every home and business on the Town of Jackson's water system in Wyoming is under a boil water order after E. coli was detected in untreated water from a town well. The Environmental Protection Agency required the town's boil water advisory on the evening of Thursday, Sept. 24, and it remains in effect until further notice.
Teton County School District closed all of its schools Friday, citing the order's effects on student transportation, families with children in several schools, and food service, since kitchens in Jackson prepare meals for schools outside town. The district has since announced that schools will reopen Monday, Sept. 28, with drinking fountains turned off, bagged lunches, and hand sanitizer provided if the order is still in place, Buckrail reported.
No illnesses linked to the water have been reported. The order reaches beyond town limits, including Jackson Hole High School, Jackson Hole Classical Academy, and neighborhoods such as Saddle Butte and 3 Creek Ranch, Cowboy State Daily reported.
Schools, Cafes, and Grocery Shelves Feel the Impact
The alert sent residents to grocery stores Thursday night. The Jackson Albertsons temporarily sold out of bottled water and routed extra deliveries overnight. The store also shut down drinking fountains and ice machines and suspended bakery and deli production that uses town water.
Some coffee shops closed Friday, including Cowboy Coffee Co., while others adapted; Snake River Roasting boiled water for drip coffee. Businesses not connected to town water, including Dornans in Moose and Hungry Jack's in Wilson, offered free water, and Element Plumbing opened a UV disinfection water station to the public.
St. John's Health remained open and fully operational, Wyoming Public Media reported. Food businesses on town water received guidelines to follow if they stay open. Teton County Health Department Director Dr. Travis Riddell told Wyoming Public Media: "This is a really big deal for hospitality, like restaurants and hotels."
For families, the disruption is immediate. Every use of tap water, from drinking to brushing teeth, now needs a second thought.
One Well, One Indicator, No Reported Illnesses
Town of Jackson External Affairs Director Susan Scarlata confirmed to Cowboy State Daily that E. coli was found in untreated water. Public Works Director Johnny Ziem told the Jackson Hole Daily that the problem was limited to one well that had been shut off for two weeks, according to Wyoming Public Media. Ziem told the Jackson Hole News&Guide: "All of the other wells that were tested were negative." The paper also reported that water from the affected well was still in the town's storage tanks.
Riddell said E. coli serves as an indicator of possible fecal contamination. He told Cowboy State Daily: "The specific bacteria that was detected is E. coli, but that is really a marker and not necessarily the extent of the health risk."
Riddell said the most likely scenario is that a small amount of contamination entered during maintenance, rather than a large contamination event. Officials have not confirmed the cause. Asked about the public health risk, he told Wyoming Public Media: "Based on what I know about the contamination scenario, it ought to be pretty low. But certainly more than zero."
His office is monitoring the Wyoming Department of Health's reportable disease registry. As of Friday, it had seen no spike in the illnesses that system tracks, though the registry does not capture every stomach bug.
Federal Oversight Explains the EPA's Role
Wyoming is the only state that has not taken over enforcement of federal drinking water rules, so EPA Region 8 directly oversees public water systems there. Under EPA Region 8 rules, Wyoming systems must issue a boil water advisory when an E. coli violation occurs.
The town's disinfection system will stay offline during testing because EPA protocol requires testing raw, untreated water, the Jackson Hole News&Guide reported. According to the town, water samples take 18 to 24 hours to incubate and process, and lifting the order requires two consecutive days of clean results plus an official announcement.
Wyoming Public Media reported that the earliest return to normal would be Sunday evening. Buckrail later reported that the EPA recommended keeping the advisory in place for seven days as a precaution, though Ziem said it likely would not last that long. The Teton County Health Department is staying open Saturday to process water samples.
Safe Water Habits Until the Order Lifts
The town instructs customers to use bottled water or bring water to a rolling boil for at least three minutes, a longer time because of Jackson's altitude, and let it cool. Use boiled or bottled water for drinking, brushing teeth, cooking, and washing dishes.
People who drank tap water before the alert should watch for vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps, Riddell said. Severe discomfort, trouble staying hydrated, fever, or bloody diarrhea should prompt medical attention.
The town asked people not to call 911 with questions about the advisory. Public health questions can go to the Environmental Health Office.
The town will post updates at JacksonWy.gov. Until officials formally lift the order, every tap in the service area should be treated as unsafe to drink without boiling.
Key Questions Answered
Why is Jackson under a boil water order? E. coli was found in untreated water from a town well, and the EPA required a boil water advisory for the Town of Jackson and every system it supplies.
Has anyone gotten sick? The Teton County Health Department said Friday it had received no reports of illnesses believed to be connected to the water.
Are schools open? Teton County School District closed all schools Friday, Sept. 25, and announced that classes will resume Monday, Sept. 28, with extra water precautions if the order is still in effect.
How long will the order last? Lifting it requires two consecutive days of clean test results and an official announcement. Sunday evening was the earliest possible end, though the EPA recommended keeping the advisory for seven days as a precaution.
How should I treat my water? Bring water to a rolling boil for at least three minutes and let it cool, or use bottled water, for drinking, brushing teeth, cooking, and washing dishes.
What symptoms should I watch for? Vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps. Seek care for fever, bloody diarrhea, severe discomfort, or trouble staying hydrated.
Published by Medicaldaily.com
