Murky water flows from Bakersfield faucets
| Monday, Jun 14 2010 02:37 PM
Last Updated Monday, Jun 14 2010 02:37 PM
Neighborhoods along Coffee Road and Fruitvale Avenue received murky water Monday morning after unusually heavy runoff down the Kern River prompted the closure of a northwest Bakersfield water treatment plant.
The backup plan called for reversing certain pipelines in order to tap alternative water sources. But reversing the flow meant that as many as 100 customers of California Water Service Co. may have gotten water containing silt and sediment from their faucets, company district manager Tim Treloar said.
He said the dirty water won't hurt people, but that they shouldn't drink from the tap until the water becomes clear.
"As soon as it's clear they can drink it," he said, adding that the company expects everything to return to normal Tuesday.
Meanwhile, he said, customers along Coffee and Fruitvale who called the company to ask about the dirty water were told they could buy bottled water and they would be reimbursed by the company.
Northwest Bakersfield resident Elaine Fleeman said she noticed the discolored water at about 10:30 a.m. Monday.
"I was washing my hands and suddenly the water just turned brown," she said.
A company water inspector told her the discoloration was due to harmless magnesium, and that there probably were not significant levels of bacteria or other toxins in the water, she said.
"I'm just relieved to know that it's not a health hazard."
The situation originated with ash and other contaminants along the bank of the river, Treloar said. Company officials anticipated this residue washing down the river eventually, he said, but they thought the treatment plant could handle it.
"We thought we were ready and prepared," he said. "Apparently we were not."
Reversing the flow of water in main lines generally changes its color, he said.
"When water's generally flowing one direction for years, basically, and then you stop that and you now run the water from the main in the opposition direction, it has a tendency to scour stuff off the main," he said.
Customers who have questions about the water are asked to call the company at 837-7200.
