Updated at 3:20 p.m. May 22
The Town of Belt has lifted the boil advisory for its drinking water system as of about 3 p.m. on May 22.
Mayor Travis Page told The Electric that the sample that tested positive for e. Coli turned out to be a faulty test.
He said plant operators spoke with the Montana Department of Environmental Quality about the test and the agency said the boil advisory could be lifted.
Page said they think the false positive was caused by rubbing alcohol used to clean bottles involved in the sampling.
Earlier in the day the town had issued a boil advisory after a water sample tested for potential e. Coli, followed by a second sample that plant staff drove to the state environmental testing lab in Helena earlier this week for quick testing was positive for e. Coli.
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When they thought it was a positive test, Page said the town was working with DEQ and following all standard water treatment protocols and exceeding the boil advisory requirements.
They had planned to chlorinate the water to eliminate the e. Coli bacteria in the system, but the holiday weekend and needing DEQ on site for that process was slowing the process.
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Page said that the town is working to bring in bottled water for residents to use over the weekend.
He said the sample that tested for e. Coli was part of routine testing and nothing had changed operationally to cause contamination.
He said the town owns and operates its water treatment plant.
Page said the town had moved quickly to notify residents of the boil advisory and as of about 3 p.m. on Friday, were working to let everyone know the advisory had been lifted.
