Colcord Water Cleared; No More Red Worms Detected

Water is now safe to drink in the Oklahoma town that suffered from blood worms being found in the town's water supply late last month, CBS affiliate in Fort Smith, KFSM reports.

Colcord officials received their last test sample Saturday from the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality showing the water is now safe and free of blood worms, said Dalton Asbury, the town's emergency management director. The water was then tested seven consecutive times for blood worms, with no adverse results. Schools were cleared to allow students to drink the water Tuesday, said Supt. J.D. Parkerson.

The blood-worm scare closed school for about a week and temporarily barred about 300 customers from drinking the water, although they could bathe in it. Students returned to school Sept. 3, Parkerson said. Water bottles were handed out to students while residents were barred from drinking the water.

8/28/2013 Related Story: Worms In Water Cancel School In Colcord; 'Do Not Drink' Order In Effect

Blood worms were found on a city water filter on Aug. 26, and running water in Colcord was shut off the next day after the water tower was drained.

Mayor Pat Upton said this was the first time that Colcord has experienced this infestation.

"We've never seen this before," Upton told 5NEWS last week, "and consequently, it was a little bit scary at first until we were able to identify what they were."

Blood worms, also known as red worms, are the larvae of midge flies. Officials say the blood worms do not pose a health threat, but the city is purifying the water supply to get rid of the pests.

8/27/2013 Related Story: DEQ: Red Worms Found In Colcord Water Supply