How to resolve AdBlock issue? CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – Clearlake Oaks County Water District officials expect that a boil water order necessitated late last week due to a water main break should be lifted on Tuesday.
General manager Matthews Bassett said the main break occurred at a fire hydrant at the corner of Keys Boulevard and Highway 20 last Friday.
The hydrant was attached to an 8-inch water line and the leak occurred in that connection, he explained.
When the leak was detected, about 100 gallons of water a minute was coming out of it, Bassett said.
District crews worked until late that night, trying to isolate the leak, which Bassett said was the challenging part.
Bassett said a district crew excavated the site and capped the leak, and a number of connections had to be shut off.
District staff also had to go door-to-door to deliver 171 boil water order notices to customers, which Bassett said was the most time-consuming aspect of the response to the leak.
He said the impacted customers are located in the area of Sulphur Bank, Elem and Orchard Shores.
Bassett said the district also notified the California Department of Public Health.
He said the district is being required to conduct lab testing before lifting the boil water order.
The first of two tests came back fine; he said the results of the second should be available on Tuesday.
Once the second test's results are back and confirm that water conditions meet requirements, district staff will again go out to each individual customer to notify them that the boil water order has been lifted, Bassett said.
While the Clearlake Oaks County Water District is an older system, besides this recent leak Bassett said overall it is holding up well.
Editor’s note: The district originally reported that there were 71 boil water orders issued. The correct number is 171.
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