by Claudia Melendez Salinas, originally posted on October 31, 2016

CARMEL VALLEY >> A water break near the San Clemente Dam has prompted a boil water advisory for Carmel Valley Village.

Customers of California American Water from Los Laureles Lodge to San Clemente Drive, including the Sleepy Hollow subdivision, are being advised not to use tap water for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, or preparing or rinsing food with tap water until further notice unless it has been properly disinfected.

The advisory was issued by the company, the Monterey County Health Department and other regulatory agencies after the break caused water pressure to drop below 20 pounds per square inch. When it falls below this level, it could create a vacuum and syphon water unsafe for drinking.

“We need to check its bacteriological quality,” said Eric Sabolsice, Cal Am’s director of operations. “We ask people to boil the water on an interim basis to get that confirmation.”

Cal Am officials fixed the break at around 5 p.m., almost seven hours after it was reported. They were planning to test the water later Monday, Sabolsice said, and depending on the results, the boil water advisory could be lifted in 24 hours or remain in place for 72.

“We set the expectation it could take that time,” he said Monday afternoon. “We did fix the leak and will test the water tonight. It takes 24 hours to get results back. We hope results come back clear. If we get positive results, we can reach out to the local health department and water agency to get permission to lift the boil advisory.”

Customers in the affected area should bring all water to a boil, let it boil for three minutes, and let it cool before using, or use bottled water. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, washing dishes, brushing teeth and preparing food until further notice.

Cal Am customers in other areas of Monterey County are not affected. For more information or concerns, call 1-888-237-1333.