On June 19 The Sevier County Rotary Water Task Force distributed more than 200 test kits to residents at four locations in an effort to assess well water sanitation throughout the county. The following week 196 kits were returned for evaluation.  The area of distribution was Gatlinburg Boys and Girls Club, Pigeon Forge Community Center, Sevierville Civic Center and Seymour United Methodist Church.

Exactly half of the samples tested revealed some presence of bacteria.

All residents who submitted test samples should receive personalized results in the mail.

The water samples were checked for “total coliform,” with results ranging from 0 parts per 100 ml to “TNTC” (too numerous to count). Coliforms are a kind of bacteria located in the digestive tracts of animals and humans transferred in the soil and decaying vegetation. They are generally not harmful, but they are used as a gauge of water quality. Water contamination is typically associated with fecal contamination from animals and humans.

The Environmental Protection Agency says that no level of bacteria in drinking water is safe. The United States Departments of Federal Housing Administration and Housing and Urban Development both will accept bacterial counts under 10 parts per 100 ml as acceptably healthy for drinking water.

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