SALEM, Ore. (AP) — The National Guard will hand out free water to residents who can’t drink tap water contaminated by an algae bloom in the Salem, Oregon, area, and state law enforcement authorities are looking into claims of price gouging after officials extended an emergency drinking water advisory.
Gov.
Kate Brown’s office said Thursday the water will be distributed to people at 10 locations in the state’s capital and Stayton because of toxins created by a bloom at Detroit Lake, a municipal reservoir.
Officials had earlier warned young children and people with compromised immune systems against drinking tap water in the area.
"We’re not going to speculate as to whether it’s going to get better or get worse."
Officials have received more than a dozen complaints so far and expect more as consumers become aware they can report the incidents.
Alan Torga, of Salem, was one person who complained after he said employees at a supermarket asked his mother for $25 for a case of 36 bottles of water.
"She picked up on it and called me," Torga said, adding that he told his mother not to pay the price.
City and state health officials will wait for two days’ test results to fall within safe limits before lifting the advisory, said Kenny Larson, a spokesman for the city of Salem.
——— This story has been updated to reflect a new advisory lift date based on information from another water official.