The Los Angeles Department of Power and Water issued a boil-water notice on Wednesday for a two-block area of Koreatown after routine testing came back positive for E. coli, the department said.
The positive test, which came on Tuesday, was from a single water quality testing station, and did not affect any other part of the water distribution system, the department said.
Although there was no information on what caused the positive test result, officials said it was unrelated to the warehouse fire in Boyle Heights and that “fire-related contaminants” were not found in the water samples.
The boil-water notice was issued out an abundance of caution, the LADWP said, as additional testing is being done and samples collected.
The affected area is bounded by South Ardmore Avenue to the west, South Mariposa Avenue to the east, West 5th Street to the north and West 6th Street to the south. In that area, LADWP staff was “out in full force” on Wednesday, passing out water bottles to affected customers and businesses requiring ice, and going door to door to hand out information about the notice, the department said on X.
Those in the affected blocks should bring all tap water to a boil for one minute and let it cool before use. “This applies to water for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, making ice cubes, and food preparation,” the LADWP said.
A department spokesperson told The Times on Wednesday evening that there was no estimate on when the notice would be lifted. It will remain in place until testing is complete.
But customers will be notified “immediately” when the notice is lifted, the department said.
