Md. Prison's Water Found Safe After Taint Scare

SALISBURY, Md. (AP) -- The Maryland Environmental Service says tap water at a state prison on the Eastern Shore is safe to drink after the discovery of coliform bacteria in the water supply earlier this month.

The Daily Times of Salisbury reports that two water samples taken at Eastern Correctional Institution near Westover during routine testing last week showed the presence of the bacteria, commonly found in fecal matter. The standard allows just one positive result per month.

Most forms of the bacteria are usually harmless to healthy people, and officials say the potentially deadly E. coli strain was not found during testing.

Additional tests July 5 suggested the contamination may have come from the test lab, not the prison.

Prison department officials say inmates were given bottled water as a precaution.
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