The same week that the city of Galveston gave a clean of health to the Island's water supply, the district headquarters of the U.S. Corps of Engineers is taking some proactive steps after a second test found the deadly legionella bacterium in water pipes there.

The first positive test for the bacterium, which can cause Legionnaires' disease, occurred in some water taps shortly after Thanksgiving at the University of Texas Medical Branch. 

On Tuesday, the city of Galveston sent out a press release saying that recent tests on the water supplied to residents and businesses found that it was safe. 

City officials sampled water from four locations following the chain of supply from the Mainland onto the Island, and then to the UTMB campus, according to the Jan. 27 press release. 

I called Kurt Koopmann, public information officer at the Galveston County Health District, to clear up the contrasting information. Here's what he told me on Tuesday:

Given the fact that Galveston has tested the water and the water is safe, we don't see any increased risk for the general public based on the testing. It's important to note that there have been no reported cases of this disease. If someone were to have it, they (medical authorities) are supposed to notify us. The water is safe to drink at this time, based on the city's testing.

The Corps of Engineers isn't taking any chances. Bottled drinking water, alcohol-based sanitizers and a ban on showers in the exercise room are the order of the day at corps' Galveston headquarters after the second test found the bacteria in water pipes.  

Col. Dave Weston, the corps' district commander, told the Chronicle that he is having the small chillers on the air-conditioning unit checked for bacteria since it could be an aerosol source. Water pipes at the corps' headquarters will be flushed with chemicals to eradicate the problem over the weekend, he said.