A boil water order in Plainfield that forced schools to revert to remote learning Monday was lifted after water samples showed no signs of E.coli bacteria.
A letter to parents detailed an ongoing outbreak in Plainfield that forced more than half the District 202 schools to revert to remote learning Monday — but this time, the culprit wasn’t COVID-19.
Instead, district schools that are supplied with water from the village of Plainfield had to temporarily close their doors amid an outbreak of E. coli bacteria, which was discovered during routine water sampling last week, according to a news release from the village.
The community also is under a boil water order, which directs residents to drink bottled water or boil tap water to eliminate bacteria found in an area’s water source. The order was issued Friday after an outside laboratory, to which Plainfield sends its weekly water samples, notified village leaders E. coli bacteria had been detected.
“This boil order will be in place until two sets of 40 samples are determined satisfactory. We will continue to share updates and appreciate everyone’s continued patience and understanding,” said the news release, shared to Plainfield’s Facebook page.
The findings also prompted officials to take additional water samples. Twenty-one were collected Friday, “all of which came back with no signs of Coliform or E. coli bacteria,” according to the village. Results from another 40 sample results were expected to be returned Sunday and Monday, for a total of 80.
If the samples are negative for E. coli bacteria, “the Village will be able to lift the boil order very quickly,” according to the statement on social media.
The village also inspected its water towers and a ground storage tank, flushed area fire hydrants and increased chlorine levels at all pumping facilities.
The village lifted the boil order around 8 p.m. Monday. A Facebook post on the Village of Plainfield’s page said the village collected 40 water samples on Saturday and on Sunday and all the samples came back with no signs of Coliform or E.coli bacteria.
The village said residents could resume normal water use, but if they wanted to take extra precautions they should flush their water lines, clean faucets and throw out ice cubes.
Plainfield’s mayor, John Argoudelis, issued a separate statement urging residents not to “point fingers” or focus on politics.
“For over 20 years we have enjoyed safe Lake Michigan water without incident and we will determine what caused this and resolve it ASAP,” he said in the statement, noting that once safe drinking water is restored, village staff then will focus on “what can be done to add further safeguards going forward.”
According to the school district’s announcement, 15 schools that get water from other sources were not affected, and in-person classes were conducted there Monday.
The schools that closed Monday were Bonnie McBeth Learning Center/Ina Brixey Center; Central Elementary; Eagle Pointe Elementary; Eichelberger Elementary; Freedom Elementary; Lincoln Elementary; Walker’s Grove Elementary; Wallin Oaks Elementary; Heritage Grove Middle School; Indian Trail Middle School; Ira Jones Middle School; John F. Kennedy Middle School; Plainfield High School, Central Campus; Plainfield North High School; Plainfield East High School; and Plainfield Academy.
In-person classes could resume as early as Tuesday if the sample batches returned both Sunday and Monday were negative.
In July, there was an E. coli outbreak in Glendale Heights, which the Illinois Department of Health suspected was linked to a Portillo’s location there, after at least four of the restaurant’s customers became ill.
With an average incubation period of one to 10 days, the bacteria can cause symptoms including cramps and diarrhea and, in children and older adults, kidney failure and red blood cell destruction, IDPH said.
The village and the Environmental Protection Agency “will be conducting a full review of the testing process and boil order,” the village said on its Facebook page.
