Nearly half of Santa Paula residents cannot use tap water for drinking or cooking due to possible contamination in a city reservoir.
City officials warned affected residents that they should use only bottled water for drinking, brushing teeth, making ice and preparing food after a theft at the city's main storage warehouse, officials said in a news release. on Monday. These residents should also consume bottled water for baby formula and other dehydrated foods and beverages.
Residents should not attempt to treat water by boiling it, freezing it, filtering it, adding chlorine or other disinfectants, or letting the water sit to try to make it safe.
The city will provide drinking water from its main treatment plant to those affected by the situation. Residents are encouraged to bring their own containers to collect water.
“Our top priority is the health and safety of our residents, and we will provide regular updates as more information becomes available,” the city said.
On Monday afternoon, municipal warehouse employees discovered that someone had crossed a security perimeter at the storage site. City employees immediately turned off the main water supply from the tank that supplies a portion of the city's water to prevent the spread of any possible contamination, officials said.
Santa Paula police officers arrived at the reservoir to investigate reports of a possible intruder. When officers searched the area they found clothing and personal items nearby, according to officials. While there were no clear signs of a visible contaminant in the reservoir, city officials and the California State Water Resources Control Board issued a preliminary “Do Not Drink” advisory for about half of all residents in the Ventura County city.
Testing the water for contaminants could take five days, officials said. In the meantime, the city issued the warning and imposed other restrictions as a precautionary measure until it is sure the city's water is safe to drink. The city's regular water supply source is not affected and residents can use its water for bathing.
