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2/11/2025
WT Staff
Got water questions? Give us a call at 877-52-WATER (877-529-2837), or email us at info@watertoday.ca
February 11, 2025 853 am PST
Volatile Organic Compound Benzene found in Altadena water, not found in air quality sampling
Safe Drinking Water Advisories
Los Angeles County: On February 6, the Altadena “Do Not Use” order has been updated to DO NOT DRINK-DO NOT BOIL YOUR WATER order. The official statement Lincoln Avenue Water Company, California Public Water System ID
# CA1910063 distributed 02/06/2025
"Due to the Eaton Fire, some structures within the Lincoln Avenue Water Company service area were
destroyed by the fire, and a section of the Lincoln Avenue Water Company water system depressurized.
Follow-up testing for volatile organic chemicals (VOC) detected Benzene at sample sites located on
E Manor St., Highview Ave., W Pine St., and E Pine St. Benzene results so far are as high as 22 parts
per billion (ppb). The current MCL is 1 ppb. These findings are being carefully evaluated, and mitigation
measures are in place to ensure water safety. The State Water Resources Control Board, Division of
Drinking Water; Los Angeles County Public Health Department; and the Lincoln Avenue Water
Company are advising residents of the affected area to NOT USE THE TAP WATER FOR DRINKING
AND COOKING UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
Due to VOCs’ ability to vaporize at lower temperatures and become airborne, residents are
advised to:
- Limit use of hot water
- Limit shower time/bathing, and do not take baths (use lukewarm water and ventilate area)
- Use a dishwasher to wash dishes and use air dry setting
- Wash clothing in cold water
- Avoid using clothes dryers (dry laundry outdoors)
- Do not use hot tubs or swimming pools
- Do not use ice from automatic ice makers
- Use proper ventilation when using water indoors
What should I do?
- DO NOT DRINK YOUR TAP WATER---USE ONLY BOTTLED WATER. Bottled water should be
used for all drinking (including baby formula and juice), brushing teeth, making ice and food
preparation until further notice.
- DO NOT TRY AND TREAT THE WATER YOURSELF. Boiling, freezing, filtering, adding chlorine
or other disinfectants, or letting water stand will not make the water safe.
UPDATES TO THIS ADVISORY WILL BE PROVIDED BASED ON MONITORING RESULTS.
For more information, call (626) 798-9101 or visit the website, here.
What is benzene?
According to the National Cancer Institute, "Benzene is a colorless or light-yellow liquid chemical at room temperature. It is used primarily as a solvent in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, as a starting material and an intermediate in the synthesis of numerous chemicals, and in gasoline. Benzene is produced by both natural and man-made processes. It is a natural component of crude oil, which is the main source of benzene produced today. Other natural sources include gas emissions from volcanoes and forest fires."
The primary route for exposure to benzene is via breathing air that contains the chemical. Air quality is monitored for Los Angeles South Coast basin and raw toxicity data has been made available to the public. According to South Coast AQMF Air Monitoring Results:
"January 31, 2025: A mobile survey was conducted in the Eaton Fire area near cleanup and re-populated zones. The survey measured for air toxic metals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Results show no elevated levels of air toxic metals including lead and arsenic, or VOCs including benzene."
Note these surveys capture a snapshot in time and are used to identify pollutant hotspots and help identify stationary monitoring sites. Rain delayed the second mobile survey planned for the Eaton Fire area and two for the Palisades Fire area, these are to be conducted this week.
See Los Angeles County list of the drinking water notices, here. Scroll down to Water Alerts.
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