Home / Disasters and Accidents / Mountain View Water Crisis: Cement Slurry Fouls Supply
Mountain View Water Crisis: Cement Slurry Fouls Supply
5 May
Summary
- A neighborhood has been without safe drinking water for over 10 days.
- Cement slurry contaminated the water main during pipe replacement work.
- Residents face a 'boil water' order due to coliform bacteria.
- The city is covering hotel stays and meals for affected residents.
A neighborhood in Mountain View has been without potable water for more than ten days following a contamination incident on Friday, April 24th. A contract worker allegedly failed to properly close a valve while recharging a water main, introducing cement slurry into the system. This event, believed to be unprecedented in California, led to the immediate shutoff of water to 67 homes.
After two days without any water, the supply was restored on April 26th, but only for toilet flushing. Currently, residents can use the water for non-ingestion purposes, though a "boil water" order remains in effect due to ongoing detection of coliform bacteria in specific sections of Drucilla Drive and Carla Court.
City officials are working to isolate and treat the affected piping with liquid chlorine. The city is also providing hotel accommodations and meals for displaced residents. The state's Water Resources Control Board must conduct two successful retests before lifting the "boil water" order, a process that could extend to the upcoming weekend.
