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One week after Mountain View issued an unsafe-water alert for about 65 homes near Cuesta Park, the city told affected residents that their tap water could be used for drinking and cooking as long as it’s boiled for at least one minute.
This “boil water” notice, which the city announced on Friday, May 1, will likely be in effect until at least the end of this week, as city staff are anticipating not being able to fully restore safe drinking water before May 9, according to a recent press release. In the meantime, staff are planning to conduct a “super chlorination” process for pipes in one area of the affected region.
On April 24, city contractor C2R Engineering breached a water main at the corner of Bonita Avenue and Cuesta Drive, causing a cement slurry mix to come into contact with the main water supply. Consequently, the city issued a “do not use water” advisory to about 65 nearby households and told them not to drink or use the water for purposes other than flushing toilets.
Last Wednesday, the city partially lifted the restriction by allowing residents to water their lawns and nonedible plants. Two days later, staff informed the households that they could now use tap water for handwashing, showering, laundry and dishwashing. For any cooking or drinking purposes, though, residents have been advised to boil the water for at least one minute.
The water breach has affected about 170 residents, living on Cuesta Drive, Leona Lane, Montalto Drive, Drucilla Drive and Carla Court, the city said. From initial testing of the water after the incident, two of five samples came back positive for coliform, a group of bacteria that is typically harmless but can indicate the presence of other harmful organisms, according to a fact sheet from the California State Water Resources Control Board.
Updated testing shows that coliform is still present in the water line serving homes on Drucilla Drive and Carla Court, a Sunday press release said. As a result, the city is planning to perform a “super chlorination” treatment for the pipeline in that area, which serves 23 households. The treatment was scheduled to begin Monday, according to the city. Its duration will depend on forthcoming tests of the chlorine residual levels and the presence of bacteria.
The process entails establishing temporary water lines for each of those homes, injecting the affected water pipe with a high concentration of chlorine, keeping it there for 24 hours before flushing it out and then conducting two rounds of water testing 12 hours apart to check for remaining bacteria. Throughout this work, the “boil water” notice will remain in effect, according to the city.
Once the pipeline has been disinfected and cleared to return to service, the city will remove the impacted Drucilla Drive and Carla Court households from the temporary above-ground water service and reconnect them to the main water line, the city said.
In collaboration with the California State Water Resources Control Board, the city does not expect to be able to fully lift the boil water restrictions before the weekend of May 9. Last week, Blair Robertson, a state Water Board spokesperson, told the Voice that to lift the boil water notice, it’s typical “to have two tests that are clear of the coliform currently shown in samples and those tests are generally conducted 24 hours apart.”
On April 25, one day after the breach happened, Mountain View declared a state of emergency, which will allow the city to pursue reimbursement from the state and federal government for expenses incurred while responding to this incident. Additionally, the city is investigating the circumstances surrounding the water main contamination, city spokesperson Lenka Wright said.
“We are taking appropriate steps to preserve all available legal options, including the possibility of a lawsuit,” she previously wrote to the Voice in an email. “However, the review is still ongoing, and the city will determine the appropriate course of action based on the results of that review.”
The city is continuing to provide resources for affected residents, including temporary lodging solutions, shower access and reimbursements for meals and incidental expenses.
For updates and more information about the support available for impacted residents, such as hotel and shower options, visit the city’s website.
