Long Beach issues boil water notice for some residents after 'significant' water main break

LONG BEACH, Calif. (KABC) -- Utility officials have issued a boil water notice Thursday to certain Long Beach residents after experiencing low water pressures during a "significant" water main break.

The break occurred Wednesday at 3502 Orange Ave., according to the Long Beach Utilities Department, which issued the notice in conjunction with the State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water.

It applies to the following areas:

• 90805 ZIP code (east of the Long Beach Freeway)

• 90806 ZIP code (between Orange Avenue and Cherry Avenue, north of Spring Street if serviced by the Long Beach Utilities Department)

• 90807 ZIP code

Residents and businesses in these areas were advised to use only boiled tap water or bottled water for drinking and cooking purposes to avoid stomach or intestinal illness.

"Testing has already taken place," said Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson. "There's no evidence that there's anything wrong with the water, but out of an abundance of caution, we issued that notice, and now, we're going through the process and the protocols to notify our businesses and residents on what they need to do to stay safe."

Some business owners were forced to close early Thursday.

"It's been crazy," said Sandee Riley, a barber at a Long Beach barbershop that was impacted by the floods from the water main break. "Yesterday, we just saw a little bit of water coming down the street, and then all of a sudden, cars were passing by and it was like roaring rapids. We were taking out our phones and capturing videos. It's caused people not to come to the shop so much because you couldn't walk on the sidewalk. It's muddy."

The utility is conducting specialized monitoring of water quality in the affected areas in coordination with DDW, and will inform residents when the water has been deemed safe to drink.

City News Service, Inc. contributed to this report.