Residents in a Peninsula suburb could be without water until at least midweek after an active drinking water line became contaminated during maintenance work.
The problems started Friday in the Mountain View neighborhood of Cuesta Park when a contractor was working on a water replacement project, the city said on its website. As the contractor was attempting to fill an old pipe with cement near Bonita Avenue and Cuesta Drive, cement slurry, a liquid mix of cement, water and other chemicals, accidentally spilled into an active main providing drinking water, Lenka Wright, a spokesperson for the city, told SFGATE.
As of Sunday night, about 65 homes are expected to be without usable water until mid- to late week, though water can still be used for flushing toilets, the city said. Though city officials initially told residents that the water could be back by Monday, it determined that further repairs are needed after drinking water samples taken from the area came back positive for bacteria.
Residents have been issued a “do not use water” notice, which urged people to immediately stop using tap water for drinking, cooking, hand washing or bathing. The city is allowing residents to use the showers at Rengstorff Park Aquatics Center and Eagle Park Pool. The city is offering temporary housing for residents at several hotels in the area, including the Super 8, Ramada by Wyndham, Days Inn and the Ameswell Hotel. Residents who are interested in the hotels must show proof of address and bring a credit card for the damage deposit…