Parts of a South Sacramento neighborhood are being warned to not drink or use tap water because of an undisclosed problem, according to local government authorities.
Local residents in a radius of several blocks between Main Avenue Norwood Avenue, Pell Drive and Interstate 80 received a letter on their door warning of water problems, NBC affiliate KCRA reported.
Department of Utilities officials said they first began receiving calls on Tuesday evening on Oct. 17 about reports of discolored water.
“An unknown substance has been added to the drinking water supplied by the city of Sacramento,” said the letter, which was posted Wednesday by the city of Sacramento. “(Residents are advised) to not use the tap water for drinking and cooking until further notice.”
Officials said that the water could have been “possibly contaminated” with an unknown substance that caused “purple discoloration.”
In bold font, the letter warns that “Failure to follow this advisory could result in illness.”
Residents should use bottled water for all drinking brushing teeth, washing dishes, making ice and food preparation “until further notice,” the letter goes on to say.
The letter also urges residents not to treat the water themselves by “boiling, freezing, filtering, adding chlorine or disinfectants or letting water stand” because it will not make the water safe.
Residents affected by the warning are marked in blue on the map.
Water test results won’t come back until about 4:30 p.m., according to the Department of Utilities, when they will issue a new update.
According to the department’s Facebook page, the city is providing drinking water to the elementary school and the middle school in the area.
In an update, the department announced that bottled water is now available for residents at Robla Park.
Anyone with questions is told to call the following numbers:
Water utility contact: 311 or 916-264-5011 (24 hours)
California Division of Drinking Water: 916-449-5577
Local County Health Department: 916-875-5881