A small pocket of Koreatown is under a boil water notice after routine testing by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, and neighbors are being told to treat their taps like they are on a camping trip. Until further notice, people in the affected area should stick to boiled or bottled water for drinking, cooking, making ice and brushing their teeth while crews finish sampling and lab work. City officials are calling the move a precaution while they rule out any contamination risk.
Where The Boil Order Hits
According to NBC Los Angeles, the notice applies to South Ardmore Avenue between West 5th and West 6th streets, Normandie Avenue between West 5th and West 6th streets, Mariposa Avenue between West 5th and West 6th streets, and West 5th and West 6th streets between Ardmore and Mariposa avenues. People living or working in that zone are instructed to use only boiled tap water or bottled water for drinking and for any food prep that involves uncooked items, including washing produce and making ice. NBC Los Angeles notes that officials have not said how long the notice will stay in place.
What LADWP Says Is Going On
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power says crews are taking water samples and testing for Escherichia coli, also known as E. coli, along with other microbiological indicators. Customers will be notified once results show the water is safe to drink again. The utility explains that boil water notices are issued as a precaution when there is a loss of system pressure or when a lab result points to a possible contamination risk. LADWP also offers details on safety steps for households and provides a hotline for anyone who wants more information.
How To Handle Your Tap At Home
Health officials say the safest move is to bring water to a full rolling boil for at least one minute, or three minutes at higher elevations, then let it cool before drinking or using it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Boiled or bottled water should also be used for brushing teeth, mixing baby formula and preparing any food that will not be cooked. People who are pregnant, older adults or anyone with a weakened immune system are urged to be especially cautious and check in with a health care provider if they are worried about possible exposure.
Where To Get Help And More Details
Customers who have questions or want to request water quality testing can call 1-800-DIAL-DWP, which is 1-800-342-5397, or visit LADWP water quality pages for updates, according to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. Boil notices are a standard public health response when there is any sign a distribution system might be compromised, and the California State Water Resources Control Board offers templates and rules on when those alerts are required. In earlier situations, LADWP has also organized bottled water distribution and published step by step instructions for residents while testing is carried out.
