Boil Water Order in Effect for 8 Isolated Water Systems
Incident: Station Fire Wildfire
Released: 8/29/2009
Subject:
Fire Boil Water Orders (Limited to Isolated Water Systems)
Emergency Response personnel, Water Systems, Public Health;
Re: Boil Water Orders (Limited to 8 isolated water systems located in
the fire affected areas). These systems are not connected to Municipal
Water sources. Consequently, this information is directed and limited
to individuals using water in these 8 fire affected areas only.
On August 26, 2009, during the hours 1700 - 1930. Staff from the LA
County Drinking Water Program issued the Precautionary Boil Water Orders
(BWO's) to the following water systems due to the Morris Fire, an
official evacuation, power outages, low water pressure, occurring in
portions of the San Gabriel Canyon last evening. We corresponded with
representatives by phone and or e-mail from various systems.
Directive on BWO:
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Drinking Water
Program will require bacteriological sampling and analysis with lab
confirmation before we lift this Boil Water Order. We will inform you
when these laboratory tests show no bacteria (Coliform/EColi) and you no
longer need to boil your water.
In the interim, bottled water should be used for consumption.
Program's protocol as a result of water systems located within the fire
affected areas;
(A) Contact each water system via; telephone, email, or fax. Our
immediate concern was the possibility of the water supply being
contaminated so we proceeded and issued a Precautionary Boil Water Order
with instructions.
(B) We instructed each water system that the Boil Water Order will
remain in effect until we receive Certified Laboratory analysis for
(Coliform/Ecoli) of each water sample taken directly from their well,
tank, or designated sample point. These laboratory reports would be sent
either by email waterquality@ph.lacounty.gov or to our office by fax
(626) 813-3016.
(C) In the interim the Water System would be require to post a "Boil
Water Order" until further notification by this Department. The Boil
Water Order will remain posted after the official evacuation ended.
(D) Elevating this Alert; If the water supply was contaminated by a
chemical or possible unknown substance, based upon the information
received we could elevate this alert and distribute the appropriate
notification immediately.
(E) Field Surveys will be conducted on Monday August 31, which includes
taking water samples, photographs, updating the Emergency Disaster
Response Plan, and taking chlorine residuals for disinfected water
supplies.
Water Systems:
San Gabriel Dam 1900230
Cogswell Dam 1900227
USFS East Fork
USFS Rincon Station B-10 1900588
Camp Bon Accord 1900611
Fire Camp 19 1900901
Camp Williams 1900529
River Community 1900616
Richard Lavin, Chief, R.E.H.S.
LA County Dept Public Health
Drinking Water Program
Environmental Health/Admin. HQ
5050 Commerce Drive
Baldwin Park, California 91706
(626) 430-5420 /5370/ Bilingüe-Español
