A Boil Water Advisory initially issued Thursday for residents in the Silver Strand area of Coronado and Imperial Beach later expanded to include parts of San Diego and Chula Vista.
WATCH COUNTY BRIEFING BELOW
According to the San Diego County Emergency Site, the advisory was issued by the State Water Resources Control Board Division of Drinking Water, and county officials said, “Affected customers will be contacted directly by Cal American Water Company with additional information.
San Diego (August 24, 2023) – California American Water today issued an “Advisory to Boil Water” for customers that reside in the city of Imperil Beach. Coronado customers (south of Fiddlers Cove) and customers in portions of San Diego and Chula Vista due to positive E. Coli results found in the drinking water. The California Division of Drinking Water in conjunction with California American Water, is advising impacted California American Water customers that reside in the above cities to use boiled tap water or bottled water for drinking and cooking purposes as a safety precaution.
California American Water customers in Imperial Beach and Coronado (south of Fiddlers Cove) are advised to not drink water without boiling it first. The California Division of Drinking Water recommends bringing all water to a boil, let it boil for three (3) minutes, and let it cool before using, or use bottled water. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking and food preparation until further notice. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water. This is the preferred method to assure that the water is safe to drink. Alternatively, you may add eight drops of unscented, household bleach to one gallon of water and let sit for 30 minutes.
California American Water customers are also asked to immediately discontinue any non-essential water usage. This includes all outdoor irrigation.
If customers have any questions, they may call California American Water’s customer service center at 888-237-1333. For updated information, customers can visit California American Water’s website at www.californiaamwater.com, under the Alerts Notifications section.
Please be advised that the company is doing all it can to make sure water is of the highest quality and anticipate resolving the problem within 24-48 hours. California American Water will provide information as to when the advisory is lifted.
Those affected by the advisory can go to California American Water's headquarters in Imperial Beach (1025 Palm Avenue) to pick up one case of water.
Customers can enter their address on https://awgis.amwater.com/CustomerAdvisoryMap to determine if their neighborhood is impacted by the current alert. The number of residents affected was unknown.
Earlier Thursday afternoon, the county stated the Boil Water Advisory was issued by the Department of Environmental Health and Quality because the drinking water system tested present for E.Coli bacteria.
LOCAL SCHOOLS' RESPONSE
Chula Vista Elementary School District officials said five of its schools were affected by the Boil Water Advisory, but those campuses were not closed on Friday.
The schools impacted — Los Altos, Finney, Silver Wing, Juarez-Lincoln, and CVLCC High School — were taking precautions such as turning off water (except for the toilets) and serving food that does not require washing or rinsing prior to consumption.
Additionally, the district said the schools will have water bottles, hand sanitizer, and hand-washing stations for students and school staff.
All schools in the San Ysidro School District, except Ocean View Hills Elementary, were closed Friday due to the Boil Water Advisory, the district announced.
In light of the advisory, the Sweetwater Union High School District issued the following statement on Thursday:
Dear Students, Families and Staff:
We want to inform you about an important situation that has impacted the Imperial Beach, and limited portions of the San Diego/Coronado areas. We are aware of the Boil Water Advisory issued by the County of San Diego, Department of Environmental Health, and Quality due to water supply concerns in these regions that tests revealed the presence of E. coli in water provided by Cal American Water Company. This advisory includes our school. We want to ensure you that we are taking the necessary precautions and provisions to keep students and staff safe.
We have made the decision to remain open tomorrow, Friday, August 25th as we have taken preventative measures in regards to water supply at our sites. That includes hand washing stations and hand sanitizer placed throughout campus, and the availability of bottled water.
With the Boil Water Advisory issued, please follow the instructions provided by local authorities and take additional precautions to ensure the health and well-being of everyone. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has additional guidance in both English and Spanish on what individuals can do if they are faced with a boil water advisory.
We continue to closely monitor this situation and have been in contact with health authorities for the County of San Diego, and will continue to provide updates as they are available.
The safety and well-being of our students and families are our top priorities. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding regarding this matter.
(Photo reporting partner 10News)