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Residents Frustrated With Officials' E. Coli Response

Several residents said they never received a reverse 911 call about the order despite the water department’s claim that it sent them

Residents in Wareham are voicing their frustration over the way the water department handled its concerns over E. Coli and coliform bacteria.

As free bottled water handouts continued on Sunday, several Wareham residents say they hadn’t received any notification of the water department's boil water order and instead heard on social media or from neighbors.

The order, which was issued Friday afternoon and affected residents in the town’s Onset area, came after water samples tested positive for both E. coli and coliform bacteria earlier in the week.

“I don’t have an immune system, so I have to be very careful about what I drink,” said Kent Pearce, who picked up a case of water at the Onset Fire Department.

Several residents said they never received a reverse 911 call about the order despite the water department’s claim that it sent them.

“I found out through Facebook,” Cathleen Longfield said.

Bill Nardini echoed Longfield's frustration.

“I was doing some yard work yesterday and my neighbor came over and told me about it," Nardini said. 

It’s unclear why some residents never received the calls.

The water department, which said it expects the issue to be resolved by May 17, will test samples again on both Monday and Tuesday.

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