No End In Sight Yet For San Jose Residents With E. Coli-Contaminated Water
SAN JOSE (CBS SF) -- San Jose residents who are dealing with a water contamination problem in their neighborhood still have no end in sight and were still boiling water Friday.
State regulators say they are carefully monitoring an E. coli contamination this past week in the eastern part of San Jose near the Milpitas city line, but nobody can say exactly when the neighborhood will get the all clear.
Stanley Chhoeun said he still can't believe this has gone on for so long. "I was really concerned because I was wondering where did this E. coli come from?" he said.
Workers from the San Jose water company have been busy testing the water at every single home in the impacted area.
The problem started last week after the installation of a new water main.
At this point the exact source is not known but it is possible an animal died - or defecated - in the pipe, even though according to the utility's own guidelines that should be impossible.
"So there is a protocol if there is any open trench a pipe is being laid in the ground we do have plugs at the end of the pipes to ensure that nothing gets in there," said water company spokesman John Tang.
It was the state Water Resources Control Board which initially ordered the boil notice and only the board can now lift the order.
That will require two consecutive clean tests over a 48-hour period.
As for the length of this ongoing problem?
"I would say it is a little bit longer than usual," said Stefan Cajina of the control board.
It appears for neighbors here, it will be another long weekend.
"I guess we just have to buy water and wait it out until the city fixes our problem," said Chhoeun.
Both the San Jose Water Company and state officials say the latest testing shows contamination only on two streets, Sydney Court and Sydney Drive.
The board says it is possible the restrictions could be lifted in phases, but so far there is no specific timeline.
