Content area
Full Text
Public health officials have urged Downey residents to boil their tap water through Sunday after coliform bacteria were found in the city's water supply.
City, county and state public health officials issued a boil-water order about 6 p.m. Thursday after the city's water tested positive for the bacteria earlier that day, Deputy City Manager Desi Alvarez said Friday.
The action prompted the closure of scores of restaurants and trigged a consumer rush on bottled water.
Residents may continue to shower or bathe in water from the tap, but are strongly cautioned to boil it before drinking it or cooking with it, said Angelo Bellomo, director of environmental health for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
He suggested that they should instead drink bottled water.
City officials said Downey tests its water weekly.
On Thursday, the city received the results from water quality tests conducted Tuesday, showing a...