Boil Water Notice for South Shore Recreation water around Fallen Leaf Lake/Camp Richardson

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A Boil Water Notice has been issued for "South Shore Recreation" water which includes Fallen Leaf Lake, Camp Richardson, Valhalla, and Tallac Historic Site.

The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) water system was found to be contaminated with E. coli bacteria on September 8. These bacteria can make you sick and are a particular concern for people with weakened immune systems.

A diver was in the water storage tank on August 22 to perform the normal duty of clearing out the sediment that collects inside. The tank was not

disinfected after the cleaning process and USFS has consulted with El Dorado County, and they are following the protocol to disinfect the water system.

The water will be retested and USFS will reinform the public when they no longer need to boil water. It is anticipated the issue will be resolved within 2-3 days.

A list of affected businesses includes:
Camp Richardson Hotel
General Store & Café
Beacon Bar & Grill
Marina Store
Marina Duplex
Richardson House
Rental cabins
Ice Cream Parlor
Keys Café at Camp Richardson
Eagles Nest Campground
Badgers Den Campground
RV Village
Valhalla
Pope House
Baldwin Estate
Taylor Creek Visitor Center
Fallen Leaf Campground

To Boil Water safely: Bring all water to a boil, let it boil for one minute, and let it cool before using, or use bottled water Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and food preparation until further notice. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water.

E. coli are bacteria whose presence indicates that the water may be
contaminated with human or animal wastes. Human pathogens in these wastes
can cause short-term effects, such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. They may pose a greater health risk for infants, young children, the elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems. The symptoms above are not caused only by organisms in drinking water. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical advice.

People with severely compromised immune systems, infants, and some elderly
may be at increased risk. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their healthcare providers. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from U.S. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1(800) 426-4791.