California drinking water warning issued after oil contamination
On Tuesday, a corporate section of Bakersfield received a "do not drink" advisory following oil contamination in the water. The City of Bakersfield Water System and California Water Service have issued an advisory advising individuals not to drink their tap water after oil was found in the water source. The warning warns that failure to follow this advisory could result in illness. According to the Hawaii State Department of Health, drinking water containing petroleum hydrocarbons can cause an upset stomach, stomach cramping, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The leak occurred from a private property back, which will be undergoing a thorough flushing to eliminate the residue. The city is working with California Water Services to investigate the cause and ensure compliance and accountability. The advisory also recommends saving receipts for bottled water purchases to be reimbursed by the city.
Publicerad : 10 månader sedan förbi Mandy Taheri i Environment
"Do not drink" and "do not use" the tap water in a corporate park in Bakersfield, California, a new advisory issued by the City of Bakersfield Water System and California Water Service reads.
On Tuesday, individuals on specific streets in Bakersfield were informed not to drink their tap water after oil was found in the water source. Bakersfield Vice Mayor Andrae Gonzales shared the news on his personal Instagram page.
The statement warns that "failure to follow this advisory could result in illness." According to the Hawaii State Department of Health, "drinking water containing petroleum hydrocarbons can cause an upset stomach, stomach cramping, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Your throat and mouth may also get irritated."
"Oil from a private customer's property back flowed into the water distribution system," California Water Service wrote in a statement, adding that crews will be "flushing the system to eliminate the residue." The specifics of the leak are not yet known to Newsweek.
According to California Water Service's website, the provider "must ensure that protective backflow devices are installed at certain properties to prevent potential contaminants from the property from flowing back into the water system."
Newsweek reached out via email to Gonzales, Mayor Karen Goh and the Bakersfield Water Resources Department on Thursday, and submitted a media inquiry form on California Water Service's website.
The Bakersfield city manager's office informed Newsweek via email Thursday morning that the city is "experiencing a water quality issue for commercial customers in the area along Truxtun Avenue." The statement added that "no residential customers have been impacted at this time."
The city is working with California Water Service and other relevant agencies to "investigate the cause and to ensure compliance and accountability," the statement said. The city's domestic water system is "operated and maintained by California Water Service."
The warning comes at a time when Bakersfield, a city nearly 100 miles north of Los Angeles, reached 100 degrees Wednesday. The National Weather Service (NWS) placed the city under an "excessive heat warning" until Friday evening. Thursday is expected to be the city's hottest day in 2024, with record temperatures nearing 108.
Bakersfield isn't the only city feeling the heat as many Southern and Southwestern areas of the country are experiencing extreme temperatures caused by a heat dome, which occurs when a ridge of high pressure gets trapped in the atmosphere.
Regarding the wave of extreme heat, which is categorized as a 3, Red, the NWS said: "This level of rare and/or long-duration extreme heat with little to no overnight relief affects anyone without effective cooling and/or adequate hydration."
The advisory says that impacted households should use bottled water for all purposes beyond drinking, including "brushing teeth, washing hands, washing dishes, making ice, and preparing food."
Bakersfield recommends saving receipts for bottled water purchases to be reimbursed by the city.