In preparation for construction work next week, Calaveras County Water District crews are flushing main water transmission lines in the La Contenta area this morning – Thursday October 6 – which may cause customers to experience discolored water. These are the areas that may be impacted:

• Vista Del Lago Drive
• Gold Creek Estates
• Highway 26 between Gold Creek and Vista Del Lago
• Businesses in Terrace and La Contenta Plazas

The District has been unable to flush these lines regularly over the past few years, due to State-mandated restrictions brought on by the drought. Over the years, minerals have built up on the inside of the pipes. When CCWD crews perform flushing operations, the velocity of the water increases significantly and is scours the inside of the pipes, which can cause the mineral buildup to dislodge from the pipe and cause water to become discolored. However, it’s important to remember that even if the water is discolored, it is completely safe to drink and poses no health risk. If customers would like to flush their person plumbing systems to remove the discolored water, they can turn on an outside faucet at the lowest point on the property and let it run until the water turns clear. To avoid wasting water, CCWD encourages customers to capture the flushed water for later use on trees, shrubs or other landscaping.

CCWD crews will do their best to flush the systems using hydrants to remove discolored water, but it may take some time until the water color returns to normal. Until the water runs clear, the District recommends that customers avoid washing loads of laundry, especially if the clothes are white and bleach is being used.

Those with questions or concerns may call CCWD Customer Service at (209) 754-3543 or email customerservice@ccwd.org.