Bacteria cleared from water

The town’s water system tested positive for coliform bacteria last month. After samples collected beginning Oct. 3 in the area east of Silver Lake showed the bacteria’s presence, officials turned on a hydrant on Lakeview Avenue to increase chlorination in the area and injected disinfectant into the Chestnut Street standpipe and active wells around town. Officials concluded the samples testing positive had been piped through a resident’s water filter that had not been properly maintained. Following the town’s remediation efforts, additional samples showed no bacteria presence by Oct. 13. For more information, call Donald DiMartino, director of the town’s Department of Public Works, at 508-966-5813 or visit www.bellinghamma.org. - Rachel Lebeaux