The county of San Diego’s Department of Environmental Health issued a “do not drink” notice Tuesday for water distributed by the Lake Morena Views Mutual Water Co. in Campo.
Water testing found nitrate levels higher than the maximum allowed in the water system, which serves roughly 120 residential connections and a general store in the area.
Nitrates in drinking water can come from natural, industrial or agricultural sources like septic systems and fertilizer.
Residents are advised to avoid drinking water from the system for the time being. Attempting to purify it by boiling, freezing or filtering will not reduce nitrate levels, according to county officials.
The notice will remain in effect until water testing shows that nitrate levels have been reduced and the water is once again safe to drink.
The water agency has run into trouble before, including with the Internal Revenue Service.
“This organization’s exempt status was automatically revoked by the IRS for failure to file a Form 990, 990-EZ, 990-N, or 990-PF for three consecutive years,” says the nonprofit database GuideStar. “Further investigation and due diligence are warranted.”
In December 2016, San Diego County cited the water agency for violations of the California Safe Drinking Water Act.
— City News Service contributed to this report.