FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Galveston’s Water Supply Negative for Bacteria
Galveston, Texas
January 27, 2009
After Legionella bacteria was detected in the water supply at John Sealy Hospital last month, the City of Galveston tested its own water system to determine if the bacteria had spread beyond the confines of the facility. Results came back and confirmed the City’s water supply was not contaminated.
The City’s testing regiment included two different methods: the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) experiment; and the culture technique. All test results for legionella bacteria came back negative indicating the source of the problem was not city water facilities. Samples were taken from the following Island locations:
1. Water Treatment Plant in Texas City
2. Virginia Point Metering Station
3. 30th Street Pump Station
4. UTMB elevated storage tank
City officials sampled water from these locations following the chain of supply from the Mainland onto the Island and then to the UTMB campus. Between five and six million gallons of water pass through the City of Galveston’s 30th Street Pump Station each day. That’s roughly half the island’s water supply.
All structures located on the island should have flushed their water systems immediately following the lifting of the City’s boil water notice in October 2008. If homeowners or building owners have not already purged their water lines they are strongly encouraged to do so immediately to eliminate any stagnant water. The City routinely tests its water system and it meets all water quality requirements.
