In addition to Coronado and Imperial Beach, the warning of polluted water due to E. coli has been expanded to include much of the South Bay, San Diego, Chula Vista, and San Ysidro.
The advisory was issued Thursday afternoon after a water line on Seacoast Drive in Imperial Beach tested positive for E.coli, indicating the water could be contaminated with human or animal waste, so the boil water advisory is expected to last until at least 5:30 p.m. Sunday or until further notice.
Brian Berretto, spokesman for Cal American Water Company (CAWC), the service provider in the area, said that at least 17,000 water connections in the southwestern part of the County are affected between residents and businesses.
However, he did not say why the new locations were informed hours after the original warning.
Due to this alert, several establishments have closed today, including all San Ysidro School District schools and other places of commerce.
According to a statement from Cal American Water Company, “E. coli can pose a special health risk to infants, young children, some elderly people, and people with severely compromised immune systems.”
Nora Vargas, the president of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, urged the public to check their water receipts this Friday (today) to see if Cal-Am Water is their provider. If you rent and are unsure who your provider is, you should ask your landlords because this is the only organization involved in the emergency.
“The county is working with the state so that other water agencies can respond to this situation immediately; we do not know exactly where the problem comes from; we have asked the county staff to do everything to request more resources if necessary and apply them to find a solution,” she said.
“We are in contact with the school districts, with councilors, and with cities that are representing these communities so that they keep them informed,” Vargas said.
The affected areas are:
- Coronado south of Fiddler’s Cove
- City of Imperial Beach
- West Chula Vista Areas Served by CAWC
- West San Ysidro areas served by CAWC
- Parts of the City of San Diego, such as Nestor and Otay
The City of Chula Vista said anyone wanting to check if they are within the Sweetwater Authority boundaries should call Cal-Am Water at 1-888-237-1333 or visit www.amwater.com and https://www.sdcountyemergency.com.
The City of Imperial Beach posted on its social media that CAWC would supply cases of water to affected residents at CAWC’s operations center at 1025 Palm Av., Imperial Beach, 91932.
The County, in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, issued a series of recommendations for the protection of the population:
- The water is not safe to drink
- Boil the water for 3 minutes
- Allow the water to cool before using it
- Use bottled water for drinking, brushing teeth, and preparing food until further notice.
- Not swallowing water when bathing or showering
- Sponge bathing infants and young children to reduce the chance of consuming water
Health effects may include, among other symptoms:
- Diarrhea
- Cramps
- Nausea
- Headaches
The validity of this notice must be considered until the moment in which the authorities notify that the results of new studies confirm the absence of bacteria.
In order to help protect the public’s health and safety, the County said it is collaborating with restaurants and healthcare facilities that are impacted.
For more information, residents can visit www.amwater.com and https://www.sdcountyemergency.com or call Cal-Am Water at 1-888-237-1333.
*Translation by Carolina Herrera