The Paradise Irrigation District has resumed water service to 127 streets in town, but officials are not sure if that water is safe.
While the Camp Fire may have spared the town’s actual watershed, the fire may have been so hot that it melted some of the water system’s plastic pipes. This melting may have released chemicals like Benzene – a known carcinogen – into the water supply.
Jim Passanisi is Paradise’s Water Treatment Superintendent. He said this type of toxicity happened in the Tubbs Fire last year.
“The same sort of things that Santa Rosa did to resolve this, this district would do,” he said. “The plastic water services that melted? You have to replace the water services.”
PID isn’t sure if this has happened in Paradise yet. Officials tested for Benzene and other chemicals Wednesday and will notify the public as soon as they get the results back.
In a press release, PID said those returning should only use bottled water for drinking, brushing teeth, making ice, and during food preparation. Other restrictions include:
- No allowing pets or livestock to consume tap water
- Limiting use of hot water; including for laundry (wash clothes in cold water)
- Limit shower time (use lukewarm water and shower in a ventilated area)
- Wash dishes in dishwasher; use air dry setting
- Don’t take baths
- Don’t use hot tub or swimming pools
Residents are also being asked to promptly report any noticeable odors or smells in the water supply to the office phone number: (530)-877-4971.