http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6423KI20100503More than 2 million Boston area residents faced their third day without drinkable tap water on Monday, with many commuters having to start their workweek without their customary cup of coffee or tea.
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Nonetheless, state and city offices were open, as were schools and major area businesses including mutual-fund giants Fidelity Investments and State Street Corp, leaving area residents to drink bottled beverages and prompting many retailers to stop offering coffee, ice and salads.
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Boiling water kills parasites including Giardia, which can cause intestinal illness.
After patching the hole, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority officials began piping heavily chlorinated water through the pipeline with hopes of killing off any parasites that had gotten in. Officials said it could take two days of testing before the city's water was again safe to drink.
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