UPDATE: More Water Samples Sent For Testing

Residents in the Dix Hills water district may be able to start drinking their tap water again by the end of the weekend, town officials said Saturday morning.

Harmful in two water samples earlier this week, which prompted a from the Suffolk County health department and chlorination of the water system. A total of 21 additional samples were taken and sent to the Suffolk County health department for testing Saturday afternoon, town spokesperson A.J. Carter said. The results are expected to arrive by noon on Sunday.

The contaminated samples were taken on Dec. 27 and Dec. 28. Subsequent testing for coliform bacteria produced negative results later in the week, but Carter said that the chlorine disinfectant treatment is an extra precaution.

"We believe the results will come back negative. We optimistic and confident that it will," Carter said speaking from the Dix Hills Water District. "If you came over here today we'd come over to make you a cup of coffee."

Hand-delivered letters have been going out to residents and businesses within the water district to notify the public, he said. More letters will be delivered on Saturday.

The water district is currently investigating where the bacteria came from and if an error could have occurred during the testing.