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It took nearly a month but all the homes near Mountain View’s Cuesta Park are now in the clear and have safe drinking water once again.
On Tuesday afternoon, Mountain View lifted a “boil water” notice for the last 21 households that had been without access to clean piped water since a city contractor inadvertently contaminated a water main on April 24. In total, 67 households in the Cuesta Park neighborhood were initially affected by the breach, leading the city to declare a state of emergency last month.
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While safe drinking water was restored to the majority of the homes two weeks ago, the boil water notice stayed in place for 21 remaining homes on Drucilla Drive and Carla Court. Samples collected from pipes connecting to the homes continued to test positive for coliform bacteria, which is typically harmless but can indicate the presence of other harmful organisms in the water supply, according to a fact sheet from the California State Water Resources Control Board.
To clear out the bacteria, the city resorted to “pipeline pigging” last week, a process that involves a “foam pig device,” similar in shape to a large earplug. The device is inserted into a pipe at different places and repeatedly pushed through with water pressure. In recent days, the water line has tested negative for coliform bacteria in two consecutive samples, according to a Tuesday afternoon city advisory.
“The State Water Resources Control Board, in coordination with the city of Mountain View, has determined that the health hazard has been successfully abated and that comprehensive water quality testing confirms the water at all previously affected addresses is safe to drink,” the city said in its May 19 notification to the public.
“That was the hardest part,” Mayor Emily Ann Ramos told the Voice Tuesday evening. “Getting those cleared test results and approval from the state water board. We can now move forward and those residents can get their lives back to normal.”
As a final step, residents will need to flush out their household plumbing and appliances, according to the city advisory. The city has provided instructions on how to do this and procured plumbing services for residents who need help.
In response to the late-April breach, Mountain View has been providing resources for affected residents, including hotel accommodations and reimbursements for meals and incidental expenses. The state of emergency allows the city to pursue reimbursement from the state and federal government for expenses incurred.
Last week, the City Council met behind closed doors to discuss “potential litigation” arising from the Cuesta Park water main contamination. City spokesperson Lenka Wright previously told the Voice that the city was investigating the circumstances of the incident.
For more information about resources available for affected residents, visit the city’s website.
