Low levels of toxic algae have been discovered in Salem’s drinking water, prompting officials to issue an advisory that parents should not give tap water to children under 6 years old.
From WinCo Foods to Safeway, the amount of bottled water is dwindling or already gone, store officials said at multiple locations Tuesday night.
“We’re just about out of bottled water,” said Anna Stell, customer service clerk at Safeway on Center Street in Salem.
Officials to warned parents not to give tap water to children under 6 years old, and people with compromised health and immune systems also are being told not to drink tap water.
All totaled, about 185,000 people who live in Salem and the Santiam Canyon could be impacted.
People who heard the news and showed up to grocery stores Tuesday night were greeted by chaotic circumstances.
"People were pushing — it was a madhouse," said Mark Schonbrun, 72, who was standing in the parking lot of the WinCo in South Salem.
"We got the news from her school, and since she’s right on the cusp for the age warning, we decided to come down and get bottled water for her," Keith said.
Story continues below: Salem-Keizer Public Schools will offer bottled water for students who are pre-K through first grade, district officials said Tuesday afternoon.
As reports of bottled water shortages rolled in, those at grocery and convenience stores had echoed a common theme — supplies are running low.