E. coli found in wells east of Carey

UPPER SANDUSKY — E. coli has been found in two wells located east of Carey days after a fertilizer spill turned Poverty Run Creek purple. A recent release from the Wyandot County Public Health Department states 41 wells in the vicinity of the creek have been tested for E. coli contamination, with two wells testing positive. "The two E. coli positive well water samples were not geographically near each other and cannot be conclusively tied to the incident," the release states. "Individuals utilizing the wells have been notified and provided with well disinfection procedures." The Wyandot County Health Department provided water sampling tests to residents impacted by the spill incident out of "an abundance of caution … to provide peace of mind to those in the nearby vicinity of the creek." Ingesting food or water contaminated with E. coli can cause symptoms of diarrhea, stomach cramps, vomiting and sometimes fever. Discolored water was first noticed in Poverty Run Creek on Aug. 10. Within several hours, Wyandot County EMA, the Ohio EPA, Wyandot Soil and Water Conservation and the Wyandot County Health Department was on scene and started aerating the water to help mitigate the immediate effects of the spill. Barricades were placed on nearby roads to ensure no one had extended exposure to the area. Wyandot County Public Health educator Callan McMillion reported the spill was contained fairly quickly and Wyandot EMA director Dan Cole advised the responsible party was taking responsibility for the incident. A Monday statement from the Ohio Department of Agriculture reports it, in addition to the Ohio EPA have played a role in the removal of more than 500,000 gallons of contaminated water from the creek. "The liquid manure discharge stemmed from a malfunctioning irrigation system at a nearby swine facility," the ODA statement reads. "The manure was drawn from an anaerobic lagoon … ODA is working with the facility to make certain all irrigation equipment is working properly. The lagoon from which this discharge is stored has been determined to be at proper levels." The release states local and state organizations are continuing to monitor the situation.