Paris has a problem with its drinking water system, but the town won’t likely have to face the problem alone.

In November, the town’s water tested positive for E. coli bacteria. The state warned residents that they needed to boil their water to be safe.

The immediate public health hazard has passed. The water is being chlorinated and the storage tank, which is the likely cause of the problem, is being allowed to overflow, churning any remaining bacteria out of the system.

Paris must submit a report by the middle of January on the condition of its storage tank. The town is also conducting an evaluation of its entire system for the state, which must be completed by June.

Already, there are some estimates on possible costs. Depending on the route the town takes, it could cost between $600,000 and $1 million for a long-term fix, a hefty sum for a town with fewer than 5,000 residents, 1,000 of whom are water customers.

According to Roger Crouse, the assistant director for the Drinking Water Program in the Department of Health and Human Services, his agency has a revolving fund to help communities build and repair drinking water systems. The town might also qualify for money through Community Development Block Grants and the U.S. Agriculture Department’s rural development agency.

The Drinking Water Revolving Fund, which will receive $3.5 million in funding from Question 3 on November’s ballot, provides low-interest loans and grants to communities that need to improve their water systems. The state funding draws a 5-to-1 match from the federal government for investment in projects like the one likely needed in Paris.

The nature of Paris’ problem would make it a high priority for the program, and the town can apply for funding next summer, about the time its system-wide study is due to the state.

Incidentally, Paris voted for Question 3, 55 percent to 45 percent, in November’s election. Statewide, voters agreed, which could make a real difference for the town.