Norwell residents can once again use their tap water without boiling it after the town officially lifted its boil water order Saturday morning, following two rounds of testing that confirmed the public water supply meets all state safety standards.
The boil water order, issued July 8 after E. coli was detected during routine water testing, ended July 11 after the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection confirmed the required follow-up testing showed the water was safe to drink.
"Recent testing confirms the water supply meets all safety standards," the town announced Saturday. "Residents no longer need to boil tap water before drinking, cooking, or brushing teeth. Water is safe to use as normal."
The Norwell Water Department thanked residents for their patience throughout the advisory, which lasted several days while crews flushed the system, increased testing and worked with state officials to verify the water was safe.
"We want to thank residents for their patience and understanding throughout this process," the town said. "We know the boil water order created real inconvenience, and we appreciate your cooperation while we worked to resolve the issue."
Although the advisory has ended, officials recommend residents take several steps to clear household plumbing of any water that remained in pipes during the boil water order.
The town advises residents to flush all cold-water faucets until the water feels cold for at least one minute before using it for drinking, brushing teeth or food preparation. Hot-water faucets should be run for at least 15 minutes for homes with a typical 40-gallon water heater, or 30 minutes for larger tanks, to flush untreated water from hot water lines.
Officials also recommend running an empty cycle on dishwashers after flushing hot water lines, flushing refrigerator water dispensers with at least one quarter of water, discarding ice made during the boil water order and allowing automatic ice makers to complete a full 24-hour cycle before using new ice. Water used in humidifiers, CPAP machines and other medical devices should also be discarded and replaced with fresh water.
Residents with water treatment systems are encouraged to consult their manufacturer's recommendations, as some devices may need to be disinfected or have filters replaced before returning to normal use.
Anyone with questions about the town's water system may contact Norwell Water Department Assistant Superintendent Howard Tufts at 781-659-8076 or HTufts@TownofNorwell.net.