More than 30 sailors aboard a navy ship docked at the Cascade General shipyards in Portland, Ore., were sickened last week, after the vessel’s drinking water became contaminated with E. coli bacteria.

Water from the Willamette River used to fill firefighting tanks was accidently allowed into the ship’s drinking water, causing 34 sailors and eight civilian mariners on board the USS Emory S. Land — based out of Bremerton, Wash. — to become ill, according to Navy officials.

Non-essential personnel were transferred to hotels Friday, while remaining crew members were given bottled water and catered meals and allowed to stay on board.

The ship’s system has since been refilled with clean water, and “super chlorinated” to destroy any bacteria that may have remained after the water tanks were emptied. No one has been hospitalized from the incident, and sailors are expected to return Monday.

For the full story, see KPTV News.

Source:

KPTV News. “ Navy Ship's Crew Sickened By E. Coli In Water,” http://www.kptv.com/health/22847117/detail.html; 15 March 2010.