Naples-area landlords must solve water problem to stay in database

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Naples-area landlords must solve water problem to stay in database
By Sandra Jontz, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Sunday, August 10, 2008

NAPLES, Italy — Landlords in the Naples region whose homes tested positive for coliform bacteria must fix the problem or the Navy will consider removing their homes from the database of places available for rent by U.S. sailors, an official said Friday.

Experts found traces of total and fecal coliform bacteria in 48 of 160 houses tested during the first phase of a U.S. Navy-sponsored health study in Naples.

The Navy is in the process of informing the landlords and suggesting ways for them to mitigate the problems, according to Lt. Cmdr. Wendy Snyder, spokeswoman for Navy Region Europe.

No time line has been set since some of the recommended solutions could be time-intensive, such as switching from well water to city water, Snyder said in an interview.

The American tenants can stay in those houses if they chose since the Navy’s recommended strategy of switching to bottled water for cooking, drinking and even brushing teeth is enough to mitigate adverse health effects associated with consuming the contaminated water, she said.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=56666