State: Boil water advisory continues throughout weekend

State environmental officials will likely keep a boil water order in place for Cannon Air Force Base through the weekend.

NMED spokeswoman Marissa Bardino said Friday the order will probably be lifted Monday.

In the meantime, residents of Cannon and Chavez Manor housing are still advised to boil water for five minutes if it’s going to be used for drinking, bathing, cooking or washing dishes.

The state environment department issued the advisory Thursday after two tests revealed the presence of E. coli in the base’s water system.

Cannon personnel are working on technical issues and have paperwork they need to submit before the system can be reopened, Bardino said.

“I think there are just some technical things that Cannon needs to submit that they won’t be able to submit until Monday,” she said.

“We don’t want people to stop boiling their water until the system is definitely cleared.”

Bardino said she did not have any information regarding whether tests of the system were showing E. coli bacteria gone.

Cannon maintains its own water treatment system separate from those of the local area and was the only entity impacted by the contamination.

Officials say they have been unable to identify the source of the contamination.

Cannon’s water system serves about 4,500 personnel and their families.