DENVER — The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has revoked chlorination waivers from as many as 72 public drinking water systems in the state as part of its response to an unprecedented Salmonella poisoning event in Alamosa last year, The Denver Post reported November 19.

In March 2008, there were 442 reported cases of sickness and one death associated with the outbreak in Alamosa, a community of 8,900. State health experts released a report on November 18 confirming their suspicion that a decrepit infrastructure allowed the bacteria into the Alamosa supply. They also said that up to 1,300 people may have been ill from the bacteria, the Post article said. Symptoms of the infection typically include vomiting and diarrhea.

The state’s report said that if the city had used chlorine to disinfect its supply, the bacteria might not have grown. The Post reports: “That finding has now prompted the state to redouble its efforts to require chlorine treatment in most places where the public shares a water supply.”

The report also cited other Alamosa water system defects, including poor maintenance, incorrect bacteria testing and inadequate supervision by a chronically short-staffed state drinking water program.

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