Bye Bye E.coli

Ledge Light Health District ordered two center Ledyard businesses to close and put another under a water advisory this week after water samples taken from two different wells revealed the presence of total coliform, a bacteria that tells us there’s something in the water system that shouldn’t be there.

Ming Moon, a Chinese food restaurant located at 756 Colonel Ledyard Highway, was closed Wednesday afternoon and Touch of Elegance, a hair salon also located in that building, was closed Thursday.

The property and building is owned by Patrick W. and Mark J Anhalt, who have a mailing address in East Lyme. Ryan McCammon, a senior sanitarian at Ledge Light Health District, said they have already begun chlorinating the well at 756 Colonel Ledyard Highway and if all goes well, the businesses will be able to re-open and use the water again in about a week and a half.

“They began chlorinating the well today and testing process begins this weekend,” he said. “We can potentially pull off closure notices in a week and a half.”

McCammon said no cases of illnesses connected to these businesses have come to their attention and that people are generally symptomatic within a few hours to a couple days. Symptoms may include gastrointestinal distress like vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, and cramping should contact the health authority.

“Unfortunately, the symptoms are also very similar to season flu,” he said.

756 Colonel Ledyard Highway

Food establishments that use a private well are tested quarterly, said McCammon. The well at 756 Colonel Ledyard Highway was tested on Friday, Sept. 21 and came back positive for total coliform and E.coli. A re-sampling done on Monday Sept. 24 confirmed only total coliform.

McCammon said the sample that contained E.coli did not come from Ming Moon’s tap and he said the second sample, which did come from Ming Moon’s tap, did not test positive for E.coli, only total coliform.

“It's a lower level of contamination,” he said of total coliform.

Touch of Elegance was also closed. McCammon said in that case, it’s not really an issue of consuming the bacteria but that precautions should be made to avoid contact with the contaminated water. He said people getting a shampoo or washing their hands might transfer the bacteria to their eyes or mouth or through a cut inadvertently.

758 Colonel Ledyard Highway

Subway, which operates out of the neighboring building 758 Colonel Ledyard Highway, was put under a water advisory Thursday, which means they cannot use tap water to drink, make ice or wash with. McCammon said they have switched to a bottled water system until he levels of total coliform are reduced.

“Basically they can't use the water on site but they can stay open,” he said.

McCammon said people who work at the radio station above Subway were also put on alert. He said they should not wash their hands and rince dishes like cups with bottled water.

The property is owned by Hope Valley Happy Acres, Inc., which has a Ledyard post office box.

People experiencing gastrointestinal distress who suspect they were exposed to the bacteria at any of these businesses should call 860-448-4882 and ask for a sanitarian. McCammon said they will be asked to give a 3-day food history, which will also be reported to the Department of Public Health.

According to the Connecticut Environmental Health Association, “coliform bacteria do not generally cause disease by themselves, however, if they are found to be present in a water sample it is assumed that disease-causing organisms (pathogens) may also be present.”

The website also says that few strands of E.coli cause disease but nevertheless, precautions should be taken so that people don’t consume water or food prepared with water that is potentially contaminated.

More than half of the Town of Ledyard is served by private wells.