Boil-Water Advisory Lifted for Residents Affect by Wastewater Pipe Rupture

A boil water advisory imposed after a contractor struck a water main and wastewater line earlier this week was lifted Thursday for 40 residents in Los Altos, utility officials said.

The residents were told to boil their tap water on Tuesday afternoon when a third-party contractor struck a water main and adjacent, abandoned wastewater line, California Water Service officials said.

The utility company and State Water Resources Control Board issued the advisory for residents on Fallen Leaf Lane between Holt and Morton avenues, Penny Way, Lantis Lane and at 1691 and 1701 Holt Ave., water service officials said.

The residents were advised to use bottled water or boil their tap water to drink and cook, according to water service officials.

Drinking the water could have put people at risk for contracting fecal coliform and E. coli bacteria, but it was safe to use for showering and bathing, officials said.

The water main was repaired and service was restored later on Tuesday, water service officials said.

Since then, water quality test results have shown the water was not affected by the construction incident, water service officials said.

“Two consecutive rounds of water quality tests have confirmed that it is safe to resume normal water use,” district Manager Ron Richardson said in a statement.

“We thank our customers for their patience while we worked to ensure the water was safe to drink. Protecting their health and safety is our highest priority,” Richardson said.

Customers can be reimbursed for any bottled water purchased while the advisory was in place. Receipts can be brought to the Cal Water customer center at 949 B. St. in Los Altos or sent by mail at the same address to the attention of Chris Wilson.

Any questions can be made to the customer center by calling (650) 917-0152.

--Bay City News Service, photo via Pixabay