Mendocino Issues Boil Water Alert, Advises Testing

Mendocino County officials have issued a water quality alert after the California State Water Resources Control Board served citations and boil water orders to three businesses west of Highway 1 in Mendocino. Residents and businesses in the affected area are being urged to test their water for E. coli and coliform bacteria, with free testing kits available but no public funding for laboratory analysis. While the county has recommended precautionary testing, officials note that the presence of these bacteria can be common in shallow wells, especially in winter, and residents not experiencing illness are advised not to be overly concerned. Public Health staff are offering information and support at Harvest Market, and the county continues to coordinate with state agencies to monitor the situation. However, details about the specific cause of the citations remain unclear, contributing to confusion among residents. Some businesses assert their water is safe, while officials maintain the boil water advisory and recommend caution until further notice.