Casmalia tap water could be safe to drink again as soon as Monday, if tests scheduled to be conducted today reveal that efforts to reduce bacteria have been successful.
Tests this week of the community's water showed contamination levels, including E. coli, that exceeded the state's health standards. The Santa Barbara County Health Department Wednesday released news of the elevated bacteria levels.
The water system in Casmalia was chlorinated Friday in order to flush out bacterial contamination in the pipes, said Michele Mickiewicz, deputy director of the county Health Department. The chlorinated water was then rinsed out of the pipes.
Fresh water samples should be taken this morning, and tested this evening, Mickiewicz said.
The test results should be read Sunday evening, and could be released as early as Monday morning, she said.
Casmalia's water is pumped into the community from Casmite Corp., part of Chevron.
Officials believe a deteriorated storage tank may have caused the contamination, so water has been diverted through a valve to avoid that area.
Warnings to area residents to refrain from drinking, cooking with, or brushing teeth with tap water still stand, Mickiewicz said Friday evening.
It is safe to use the tap water for laundry and bathing.
Mickiewicz said there were no confirmed incidences of E. coli illness in Santa Barbara County.
Marian Medical Center and Lompoc Hospital also reported no cases of E coli illness.
The Hitching Post, a popular Casmalia restaurant, reopened its doors to customers Friday night.
The restaurant's owners brought in water from an alternate water source for use in the kitchen, and provided customers with bottled water for drinking.
An employee of the restaurant who did not reveal his name said Friday night that manager Terri Stricklin was at a meeting to discuss the Casmalia water contamination.
“We're not too crazy right now but there's a few customers,” the employee said.
Samantha Yale can be reached at 739-2159 or syale@
santamariatimes.com.
Nov. 18, 2006
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