Health, Firefly officials: Presence of bacteria at water stations poses low risk

Bacteria was detected earlier this week in the water coming from a handful of the water refill stations at Firefly Music Festival, but Delaware health officials say there is "very low" risk to public health.

Regardless, state health officials recommended that event organizers not use four stations for drinking water after samples found the presence of total coliform, which includes a variety of bacteria used to indicate the presence of potentially harmful pathogens.

But the 10 stations throughout the festival grounds were flowing throughout the weekend, quenching the thirst of masses of parched music lovers. It is unclear which four are affected.

Those stations kept running, according to event organizers, because they treated the water with chlorine, and they say the water source "has passed all tests."

"We have been working closely with the Department of Drinking Water and our water distribution consultant to address water at the festival, including treating the water and disinfecting the water taps twice daily," organizers said. "In consideration of the heat this weekend, the very low risk to the public and the measures we have been taking, we believe this approach is in the best interest of festival attendees."

“The risk to the public is very low,” said Division of Public Health spokeswoman Andrea Wojcik. “If the Division of Public Health felt that there was a significant risk to the public, DPH would have taken additional steps, including restrictions on water usage.”

In the week leading up to the four-day musical festival at Dover International Speedway, multiple samples from four water stations connected to a single well tested positive for total coliform, which includes a variety of bacteria used to indicate the presence of potentially harmful pathogens.

“Total coliform alone does not cause illness,” Wojcik said. Normally, she said, the division will continue sampling until no total coliform is found, which can take days or weeks.

“In this case, because of the limited time to work with organizers before the event, out of an abundance of caution, (Division of Public Health) recommended to event organizers that these wells not be used for drinking water,” she said.

Further testing found the water does not contain E. Coli, bacteria included in total coliform tests that would have prompted a requirement to boil water before use.

“Typically, results where the presence of total coliform is positive, but E. coli results are negative, do not result in public notices or other urgent actions,” she said.

Dover International Speedway spokesman Gary Camp said Saturday morning that he was unaware of any bacteria in the water and would look into the issue. Follow-up calls have not been returned.

Festivalgoer Keith Walker of Alexandria, Virginia, said that if public health officials say there is no risk, he believes them.

"But if they lied and people got sick, I'd sue the festival and the city," the 27-year-old said.

After refilling at a Firefly station, 23-year-old Annapolis resident Tony Petro did not seem phased by any potential presence of bacteria, and said, "it's par for the course."

"It can't be as bad as Flint, Michigan," his friend Matt Bear, 23, chimed in.

Contact reporter Maddy Lauria at (302) 345-0608, mlauria@delawareonline.com or on Twitter @MaddyinMilford.

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