Parasites found in Alamosa water
Bea Karnes
Residents of Alamosa hoped that this was the day they'd get the all-clear on their municipal water supply. No such luck. New problems have been found.
The Colorado Department of Health informed the city that a water sample taken before the system was flushed contained two different parasites -- Giardia and Cryptosporidium. Both can cause diarrhea. The water tests were performed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Investigators from the CDC were in Alamosa to investigate reports that several hundred people contracted salmonella. The salmonella was traced to the municipal water supply, but officials were unsuccessful in tracing how the bacteria got into the water. The contaminated water was identified three weeks ago today, when residents were told to completely stop using the water.
Since then the water system has been flushed with high concentrations of chlorine. State and local officials hope that the flush also killed all traces of Giardia and Cryptosporidium; however, tests for the parasites won't be completed until Saturday.
The city remains on a "boil order" requiring residents to boil water before drinking it or using it for cooking.
As of Tuesday afternoon, there were 389 total cases of salmonella, with 107 of these culture-confirmed and 16 hospitalized. There were no deaths, and everyone has been released from the hospital.
