MERCER ISLAND, Wash. — The City of Mercer Island says there is no contamination in the latest test results from water samples collected Thursday, but the boil water order remains in effect.
All 15 of the samples revealed no presence of E. coli or total coliform.
No cases of E coli illness among residents that have been confirmed with lab tests have been reported to Public Health.
According to a news release from the city, more than a dozen restaurants are hoping to open as early as Friday afternoon, with limited menus and with permission from health inspectors.
Those businesses would only be able to sell pre-packaged food or items made without any water from the system.
"We eliminated all produce and anything that would need to be washed but we can still cook beef," said owner Scott McManus.
But there are still dozens of restaurants that don't have that option and will remain closed for the time being. Restaurants owners should call 206-263-9566 for guidance.
Thursday night, workers at one of the secure water supply facilities on Mercer Island pumped extra chlorine into the water pipes to flush out the E. coli and chloroform bacteria.
On Saturday, the city will also send divers into the holding tanks to look for the source of the sporadic contamination.
So far, there have been no significant clues about the source.
Some of the ways officials are trying to pinpoint the source of the contamination is water crews are taking three times more samples than is normal, and they're taking those samples from additional locations.
The next test results aren't going to be released until Saturday at noon, so some restaurants will remain closed at least for another 24 hours.
Regular protocol calls for releasing a boil water order after two days of clear tests, but city officials told KIRO 7 on Friday they are unlikely to end the boil water order Saturday even if a second day of tests come back clear.
City officials said they plan to be especially cautious because it is unusual for E.coli contamination to resurface days after the all-clear from a previous boil water order, which is what happened this week on Mercer Island.
Meanwhile, at Mercer Island public schools, which stayed open Friday, drinking fountains have been turned off and more than 10,000 bottles of water have been brought in for students and staff.
Residents with questions may contact the City of Mercer Island hotline open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, at 206-275-7800 or visit the city website at www.mercergov.org.
Find a Q&A about what to do when a boil water advisory is issued here.