Cal Water rescinds boil advisory for central Bakersfield after multiple results reveal no E. coli.
Cal Water had issued an alert to 220 residents in the area bordered by Drake Street, Spruce Street, 21st Street and Oak Street after a test detected E. coli in the water Thursday.
“Protecting our customers’ health and safety is our highest priority," Bakersfield District Manager Mike Mares said in a statement, "and we apologize for this unfortunate incident, especially given that we have had no major issues in this part of the water system for as far back as we can remember.” Testing for bacteria like E. coli takes 24 hours and the water is tested daily, he said.
The notice told customers, "A water sample tested positive for E. coli after a main repair was made late on Thursday, July 27."
The repair before Friday’s water sampling could have impacted the test, but Cal Water is still investigating the exact cause, McCusker said.
Affected residents were asked to avoid drinking, cooking, brushing their teeth or washing their dishes with their tap water in a notice sent out Saturday.
Cal Water asked these customers instead to either boil their water for at least one minute or use bottled water.
Cal Water said it will issue a credit to residents on their upcoming water bill because they could not use their water as normal during the weekend.
To cope, some affected residents choose to go to the store and buy gallons of water.
The affected customers also had the option of going to the Cal Water station, per the amount of people in their household.