VALLE VISTA — The unincorporated community of Valle Vista has once again experienced a loss of water, leaving its residents in a precarious state. On Monday evening, July 28, and into Tuesday morning, some residents discovered that their tap was no longer working.
At 8:14 a.m on Tuesday, residents of the community received an email from their water provider, Foothills Utilities, informing them that they may experience a loss of service due to a mechanical problem.
Approximately three hours later that morning, residents received another email informing them that the utility company was implementing Stage 2 of a Curtailment Tariff—an imposed restriction on water usage.
At 5:43 p.m., Foothills Utilities then sent out a Boil Water Advisory, warning of possible water contamination due to the loss of pressure in the system. “Such a system failure carries with it a high potential that fecal contamination or other disease-causing organisms could enter the distribution system,” the advisory said. “These conditions may pose an imminent and substantial health endangerment to people served by the system.”
The advisory also clarified the nature of the mechanical failure. It said that one of the two main wells that feed the system failed, causing the tank level to drop. A new pump and motor was to be installed on Friday, the advisory said.
Foothills Utilities offered free water bottles to residents and the next morning, residents were advised to flush their lines to clear any remaining air in the system. The Curtailment Tariff was upgraded to the more restrictive Stage 3.
The Boil Water Advisory was still in effect as of Monday, August 4. The situation in Valle Vista is ongoing.
