SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – One of South Tahoe Public Utility District’s water tanks had a mechanical issue where up to one gallon of food-grade oil leaked into the 200,000-gallon water tank in Christmas Valley. The oil floated to the top of the tank where it was discovered by staff during a routine inspection the evening of Tuesday, February 11, 2020, and the tank was immediately taken out of service.
“We don’t believe that the food-grade oil entered the distribution system, as oil floats on top of water and water is drawn from the bottom of the tank,” says Chris Stanley, Manager of Field Operations.
The District’s laboratory collected water samples from the distribution system and houses surrounding the tank and expects to have results by Tuesday, February 18. As a precaution, the District recommends residents in the Christmas Valley area flush their water lines by running faucets and bathtubs for 3-5 minutes and dumping out ice in your freezer.
Please contact the District’s lab at 530-543-6231 if you live in Christmas Valley and have noticed any issues with your water recently.