BUTLER TWP — A water advisory at the main building of VA Butler Healthcare was lifted Friday after tests confirmed the building’s water is safe to drink.

Staff and outpatients in Building 1, which encompasses all outpatient facilities in the complex, were told May 19 not to use the water after routine water quality testing found bacteria levels higher than allowed by Environmental Protection Agency standards.

Ken Kalberer, health systems specialist at the center, said the water system has since been flushed and disinfected. Water test results sent to the VA on Friday indicated the bacteria levels were back within EPA standards.

“The remediation efforts were effective,” Kalberer said.

The cause of the previous high bacteria levels is not known, but officials believe it could be the result of a faulty valve.

No other buildings on the campus, including the domiciliary or the community living center, were affected.

The bacteria found in the water were not Legionella bacteria, which can cause a severe form of pneumonia called Legionnaires’ disease.

The water was never shut off to the building, but people in the facility used bottled water for drinking and cooking.

No illnesses were caused by the higher bacteria levels.

Before the advisory, the last routine water test was done in January. At that time, the bacteria levels were below the EPA allowable level.