WEST PARIS — E. coli bacteria was found in water samples collected at the West Paris Water District between June 1 and June 30.

A July 8 notice from the district says it expects the problem to be corrected by Aug. 1 and that it will inform the community when “additional samples show no coliform bacteria and you will no longer need to boil the water.”

The notice recommends boiling water for one minute at a rolling boil before using it, or simply using bottled water.

“Until further notice, boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, food preparation, or any other activity involving consumption of water,” the notice reads.

This is what the water district has been advising since the boil water order originally went into effect on April 18 out of what the select board referred to as an “abundance of caution.” However, this recent notice is the first indication that contamination was found in the water through sampling.

The contamination was caused by “tears in the cover” of the water district’s reservoir, the notice states. A new reservoir roof will be installed and the water will be chlorin