Residents of a Washington Township mobile park say they're worried about their health after E. coli was found in their water. The state Department of Environmental Protection issued a boil-water notice to residents at Meadows Mobile Home Park on Friday after a routine lab test found E. coli in the well water that serves more than 100 mobile homes. “We've never had to boil water before,� said Henry and Janet Scavo, who have lived in the mobile home park for 39 years. The couple, both 79, had no problem drinking tap water before but said they'll continue to drink bottled water even after the boil-water notice is lifted. “We just can't take the chance,� Henry Scavo said. He and his wife both have health issues, and can't risk getting sick from the water. “We live on Social Security and can't afford to spend $300 to put in a filter.� The bacteria can cause abdominal pain and diarrhea. Young children and older adults have a greater risk of developing a life-threatening form of kidney failure, according to the Mayo Clinic. Contaminated water can be treated with a few drops of bleach and boiling. “I just boiled water to clean my cup,� said Fred Stinebiser, 80, a resident for 18 years. He said he's concerned about getting sick just from brushing his teeth and showering. He said he's particularly worried about the elderly residents who aren't in good health. “These are all older people and they're scared,� Stinebiser said. E. coli presence indicates that the water may have been contaminated by human or animal waste, according to the DEP notice. “We believe the problem is not in the source, but in the distribution system,� said John Poister, DEP spokesman. He said the DEP is working with the property management company to flush the system and disinfect it. The agency is also working with them to do an assessment of the water system and upgrade it, he said. Seeking a fix “We're working with them to make sure whatever they do maintains the integrity of the system,� Poister said. “It's going to take some work, and they have to get two consecutive negative samples before we'll lift the boil water order.� He said samples were taken Wednesday evening and were scheduled to be taken again Thursday morning. The mobile home park is owned by Meadows Mobile Home Park, LLC, according to county property records. The limited liability corporation's address is in Chicago. No one with the LLC could be reached for comment. Former owners Chris and Sheryl Miller, who live across Woodland Road from the Meadows, sold the mobile home park in 2011 to Meadows Mobile Home Park, LLC. Lou Scholl, who has been the on-site manager since April, said they're doing everything they can. “People think you can snap your fingers and fix the situation,� he said. “The company is doing everything they can to rectify this situation.� Residents react Still, residents say they're frustrated by inaction to improve the quality of the water over the past several years. Poister said the agency has received a number of complaints from Meadows residents over the past year about the quality of the water. The complaints were over brown water, he said. That's typically caused by metals and minerals like manganese getting into the water supply, he said. Longtime residents said they haven't drunk tap water for years because the water has brown sediment in it and sometimes has a bad odor. When the well pumps shut down because of maintenance or a power outage, it takes quite a while for the water to run clean again, residents said. Kelly Greenwald, whose fiancee lives at the trailer park, took a cellphone video of black water running from the bathtub faucet. He said it ran like that for two hours before clearing. “There should be bottled water here, or they should be providing a water buffalo� until the E. coli is cleared from the system, he said. “Most of these residents are elderly and can't get out.� Cindy Carson, 58, said she doesn't drink the tap water and she doesn't bathe her young grandchildren in it. “I bought (my trailer) not knowing about all this (problems with the water),� she said. “The first time I saw our well water, it was disgusting.� When she heard about the E. coli, she scrubbed her kitchen with bleach and bought bottled water and disposable cups and plates. She said she's become so concerned about the water quality that she plans to spend $2,000 on an ultraviolet light disinfection system. Poister said the DEP has been working the Meadows on upgrading the water system. It would remain well water, Scholl said. Planned improvements include upgraded filters and new tanks, he said. Residents said they'll believe it when they see it. “They were supposed to put in a filter seven or eight years ago,� Scavo said. “When you look at the water, you know they have to do something.� Jodi Weigand is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach her at 724-226-4702 or jweigand@tribweb.com. Email Newsletters TribLIVE's Daily and Weekly email newsletters deliver the news you want and information you need, right to your inbox.