Stockton assured thousands of residents this week that its tap water is safe to drink despite a foul odor, while residents of a Mountain View neighborhood continue to face boil restrictions weeks after their water supply was contaminated.
Stockton’s supplier, the California Water Service, said the odor was caused by a seasonal sourcing shift but that the supply continues to meet safety standards. Residents can flush their taps briefly if they spot any color or refrigerate an open pitcher of water if they notice any odor, the supplier said.
Several Stockton residents had posted on Facebook that their water smelled like mold, vinegar or fish.
“You can smell it on your hands after you wash them with soap,” one resident said. “It’s bad.”
The California Water Service said it is conducting additional flushing and using more groundwater supplies to alleviate the odor.
“The water provided by both Cal Water and the City of Stockton continues to meet all water quality standards set to protect customers’ health and safety,” the water service said. “We will also continue to conduct additional water quality testing to confirm water continues to meet all standards set to protect our customers’ health and safety.”
Meanwhile, in Mountain View, water samples taken at service lines near homes north of Cuesta Park came back clear of bacteria this week, while a fire hydrant in the affected area tested positive for bacteria and was disconnected from the system, the city said in an update Friday.
The process of pipe disinfection, reconnection, testing, assessment and coordination with the State Water Board is expected to take three to five days, the city said.
Boil restrictions continue to be in place for residents of 21 homes in the neighborhood until further notice, the city said. Tap water should be boiled for at least one minute and allowed to cool before it is safe for cooking or drinking. The city continues to advise residents not to use the water for bathing.
Mountain View’s contamination occurred April 24 during a water main replacement project near Cuesta Drive and Bonita Avenue, where cement slurry seeped through a closed valve between an old pipe and a live pipe carrying water to homes.
State regulators have allowed residents to use tap water for irrigating lawns and watering ornamental, nonedible plants. The State Water Resources Control Board must certify the water is safe before residents can drink straight from the tap.
Mountain View officials, who encourage residents to check their website for updates, have supplied temporary lodging and provided shower access at city facilities and through a partnership with the Silicon Valley YMCA.