Update: Tega Cay ends boil water notice for residents after E. coli found in testing

Tega Cay residents no longer need to boil their water before using it, the city said less than 24 hours after an E. coli advisory was issued.

Tega Cay issued the notice late Wednesday afternoon stating residents should boil their water before cooling and drinking it, after testing found E. coli in a city sample. Just before 2 p.m. Thursday, the city lifted the advisory.

Repeated test analyzed by a certified lab now show water is safe to use for drinking and cooking, according to the city’s most recent update.

On Wednesday the city said one of 11 samples during routine water quality testing found E. coli, a bacteria that can cause stomach cramps and digestive problems in humans.

The advisory asked customers to vigorously boil water used for drinking or cooking for at least one minute. Repeat water sampling tests would have to show E. coli is gone before the city would lift the advisory, according to the city.

The city also advised customers to use bottled or boiled (then cooled) water for brushing teeth, cleaning food, preparing baby formula, making ice or giving to pets, according to the city.

The city worked with the state Health Department on follow-up testing.

Where Tega Cay’s water comes from

Tega Cay buys the water its utility department provides to residents and customers from Fort Mill. And Fort Mill buys it from Rock Hill, the city that draws it from Lake Wylie.

Water comes to Tega Cay via a 12-inch transmission main along Sutton Road, from the Catawba River bridge at U.S. 21 to New Grey Rock Road. Tega Cay bought more than 386 million gallons of water from Fort Mill last year, according to the city’s annual water quality report.

Tega Cay didn’t find E. coli or any other coliform bacteria during testing last year. Neither did Fort Mill or Rock Hill, according to their published water quality reports.