SOME PALOMAR RESIDENTS GET BOIL ORDER

Some residents of Palomar Mountain must boil their water because it may contain coliform and E coli bacteria, which were found in the water after tests were conducted earlier in the week, according to the County Dept. of Environmental Health.
According to the health department tests indicate a well from which the water system draws its supply may be contaminated. E. coli poses a health risk to infants, young children, the elderly and people with severely compromised immune systems. The boil water order will remain in effect until the distribution system has been disinfected and tests confirm the bacteria has been flushed from the system.
This boil order only applies to Palomar Observatory, the Cal Fire fire station, and the 15 or so residences on the observatory grounds.
The water on the rest of the mountain appears to be unaffected, including that at Baileys, the summit and the Palomar Mountain Mutual Water Co., which serves the Crestline area of the mountain. That last was confirmed today by Mike Probert, systems operator at the Palomar Mutual system.