The water supply at the Riis Houses in Manhattan was pronounced arsenic-free late Wednesday, but the city is still advising residents from using their taps since a weeks-old test revealed possible traces of the Legionella bacteria.
Charles Lutvak, a spokesman for Mayor Adams, presented the mind-boggling report shortly before midnight.
Adding to the confusion surrounding Riis’ drinking water, Lutvak stated that the “belated results” revealing Legionella are most likely erroneous.
“We suspect these results are inaccurate. Legionella cannot be spread through drinking water,” Lutvak said in a statement.
“Additionally, we are actively reviewing our Legionella surveillance data and have found no reported or confirmed cases of Legionella at Riis Houses over the last 12 months,” Lutvak added.
Adams told reporters at a press conference Thursday morning that the city believes the Legionella traces are inaccurate since they came from the same sequence of tests that produced the arsenic results that are now being investigated.
“We question that because that was the same lab that gave us the questionable results before,” Adams said.
Adams’ office declined to identify the independent contractor who identified the Legionella bacterium.
Regardless, while city health officials examined the Legionella results, Adams advised the thousands of Riis Houses residents not to drink or cook with tap water.
Legionnaire’s Disease is a severe form of pneumonia caused by Legionella, which most typically grows in drinkable water and cooling systems.
Meanwhile, ingesting arsenic can be pretty harmful.
The United States According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, chemical exposure can result in brain damage, cancer, skin problems, diabetes, and high blood pressure.
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