Households served by water from the Rose Valley Water Company may be in danger from an organism called Naegleria fowleri, an amoeba blamed for the deaths of two five year old boys in Peoria in October. The company serves about 2,500 households in Peoria and several areas in west Phoenix.
Although Rose Valley Water has been chlorinating its system since October 18, the company has been shut down by the Maricopa County Environmental Services Department until its reservoirs can be tested and declared safe. Affected residents are now being served by the city of Peoria's water system.
Health officials have recommended that area residents refrain from using Rose Valley Water for drinking, cooking or bathing. Residents have been told to avoid using or immersing in any standing water like pools, hot tubs or jacuzzis, and to boil water or use bottled water when cooking or drinking.
Suspect water can be used to flush toilets, do laundry or dishes, the Health Department said, but as a precaution, pets should not drink the water.
Tests by Rose Valley Water showed the presence of Naegleria fowleri, which can cause an infection known as amoebic meningoencephalitis. But because these tests were carried out using methods still under research and not licensed for use in the United States, health officials from the Maricopa Country Health Department are retesting the water system to verify results in collaboration with the Arizona Department of Health Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
