Community Corner
Residents Should Avoid Drinking Or Cooking With Discolored Water After Bus Strikes Hydrant
The fast increase in water flow dislodged sediment, contaminating the water with iron and manganese.
ST. HELENA, CA — Residents in the city of St. Helena were advised Sunday to avoid drinking or cooking with tap water that was flushed with minerals after a bus struck a fire hydrant on Saturday.
The bus collision happened at about 4:45 p.m. on Main Street. The damaged fire hydrant released water at a rate of 4,500 gallons per minute for about 24 minutes before it was capped by the St. Helena Fire Department, according to a statement from the city on Sunday.
The fast increase in water flow dislodged sediment, contaminating the water with iron and manganese.
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Health officials in the city advised against consuming tap water until the system is flushed and restored to normal balance, which crews were working on throughout the weekend.
Issam Najm, a water quality consultant who has advised the city, said the do not use advisory was issued because samples of water quality would not immediately indicate the level of manganese that was released.
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"...out of an abundance of caution, I recommend that discolored water not be used for drinking or cooking in spite of the fact that the health risk is extremely low," Najm said in a statement.
City officials asked anyone experiencing discolored water to report it at cityofsthelena.gov/grapevine.
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