Sidney water issue resolved

Many Sidney residents received a notice in the mail this week about two positive tests for coliform in the drinking water.

Although the tone may have caused some concern, the city’s water department explained that this is simply a requirement from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, based on the amount of bacteria samples the city of Sidney water department takes per month.

Sidney has not had two positive coliform samples at anytime in the recent past. Repeated tests show that the problem is now resolved although the city never discovered the cause. The city is required to give notice within 30 days of the two positive coliform tests. The positive tests occurred sometime shortly after the storm Sept. 10, but water superintendent Bill Taylor isn’t sure if the flooding had anything to do with the positive test.

Coliform is usually only potentially dangerous to people with compromised immune systems, infants and sometimes the elderly. Coliform is naturally present in most water and generally isn’t harmful. This bacteria is used as an indicator of other potentially harmful bacteria that might be present.

The city did a follow up test for fecal coliform and E. coli, neither of which were found.