It will be at least four days before the small town of Casmalia's tap water will be safe to drink, following the recent discovery of high levels of bacteria in a main storage tank.

Tests taken this week of the community's water showed contamination levels exceeding the state's health standards, including high levels of E.coli, said Michele Mickiewicz, deputy director of the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department. The water is pumped into Casmalia from Casmite Corp., part of Chevron.

Officials believe a deteriorated storage tank may have caused the contamination, so water has been diverted through a valve to avoid the area, Mickiewicz said. The next step is to flush the water lines with chlorine and wait several days before retesting the water.

The soonest the water may be safe enough to drink would be Monday or Tuesday, Mickiewicz said Thursday.

Until that time, Casmalia residents should use bottled or boiled water for most activities, including cooking or brushing teeth. It is safe, however, to use the tap water for laundry and bathing, said David Brummond, county supervising environmental specialist.

Lifetime Casmalia resident Yolanda Cromer said she was inconvenienced by the news and had never seen anything like it in the community.

“I'm scared to do dishes or shower or bathe my 4-year-old grandson,” she said.

Advertisement

C. Ray Bruce said he found out about the contamination after using tap water for his morning coffee, and was now hoping he wouldn't get sick.

“They should have told the people sooner,” Bruce said.

The county Public Health Department released the results to the community late Wednesday afternoon, and it was up to the Casmalia Community Services District to alert residents. By Thursday morning, flyers were distributed and posted on all of the houses.

But Tommy Jackson said word of mouth was the town's preferred way of getting the message out.

“I called everybody I had a phone number for to tell them,” he said. “Now I've got to go out and buy some bottled water.”

The Hitching Post, Casmalia's popular steak restaurant, was forced to close Wednesday night after the contamination outbreak until a supplemental source of water can be brought on site.

The restaurant will likely be open for dinner tonight, with water being pumped in from Beaver Creek Water, a Templeton company, said Terri Stricklin, manager.

“We're not going to open until the water is safe for our customers; we're working to make sure that happens,” Stricklin said.

Winifred Wollam School in Casmalia was not forced to close its doors Thursday, but the school did have bottled water available for students and nobody reported feeling sick, said Principal Chae Meadows.

Students were advised to wash their hands with soap and water and then use an alcohol wipe for added security, Meadows said.

“Parents are aware of what's going on, and many kids came to school with bottled water today,” he said.

People who thinks they may be sick from exposure to the water should see a doctor.

Symptoms from contaminated water exposure can vary from person to person and range from a mild flu-like sickness to violent diarrhea, Brummond said.

Randi Block can be reached at 347-4580 or rblock@lompocrecord.com.

Nov. 17, 2006