Hurricane Katrina

05:24 PM CDT on Wednesday, September 7, 2005

Associated Press

WASHINGTON - Floodwaters in New Orleans contain bacteria associated with sewage that are at least 10 times higher than acceptable safety levels, making direct contact by rescue workers and remaining residents dangerous, the first government tests confirmed Wednesday.

"Human contact with the flood water should be avoided as much as possible," said Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Stephen L. Johnson.

Also found in the first round of testing were elevated lead levels, a risk if people, particularly children, were to drink the water.

Residents have been told since Hurricane Katrina to avoid drinking the water.

But EPA's first tests -- which tracked levels of E. coli and other coliform bacteria that are a marker for sewage contamination -- emphasize a risk from skin contact as well. The bacteria can cause infections if people have cuts or other open wounds, or if the water is splashed into their mouths, noses or eyes.

The EPA didn't test how much sewage was in the water, but quit when analyses hit the 10-fold mark.

The first round of tests searched for more than 100 chemicals and other pollutants, but only coliform and lead so far exceeded EPA safety levels, the agency said.

But this was just a first test, of water in some residential neighborhoods, not industrial areas -- and didn't include tests for petroleum products because the of oil in the water is obvious, Johnson said.

"We don't know what else is contained in that water," he stressed, saying that daily samples from different parts of the city were being taken -- and that chemicals such as asbestos are likely to be in debris from older homes and businesses.

The health hazards from this water make it imperative that remaining residents comply with evacuation orders, said Dr. Julie Gerberding, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"If you haven't left the city yet, you must do so," she said.

Symptoms of E. coli ingestion are vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain and fever; anyone with those symptoms, or who has open wounds exposed to the dirty water, should seek medical attention.

Federal health officials stressed that rescue workers need to wear protective clothing and gloves before entering flooded areas, and that anyone who comes into contact with the dirty water should be careful not to splash it into their faces -- and to find clean water and soap to wash exposed skin, especially hands, as soon as possible.

"Always, always, always wash hands before eating," Gerberding stressed.

As the putrid, bacteria-filled floodwaters began to slowly recede with the first of the city's pumps returning to operation, Mayor C. Ray Nagin instructed law enforcement officers and the U.S. military late Tuesday to evacuate all holdouts for their own safety. He warned that the fetid water could spread disease and that natural gas was leaking all over town.

As of midday Wednesday, there were no reports of anyone being removed by force.

"We have thousands of people who want to voluntarily evacuate at this time," Police Chief Eddie Compass said. Once they all are out, he said, "then we'll concentrate our forces on mandatory evacuation."

The stepped-up evacuation came as workers struggled find and count the corpses decaying in the 90-degree heat. Even when cadaver dogs pick up a scent, workers frequently cannot get at the bodies without heavy equipment. The mayor has estimated New Orleans' death toll could reach 10,000.