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On Friday, two private drinking-water wells in the Tahoe Meadows subdivision of South Lake Tahoe turned up potentially dangerous levels of either methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) or tetracholorethylene (PCE).
MTBE is a gasoline additive; PCE is commonly used in dry-cleaning aerosols. Both may cause health problems, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board staff discovered the contamination after someone complained about the foul taste of the water at a home in the subdivision, about one mile west of Stateline along Lake Tahoe's shore.
Drinking water health standards put the maximum level of MTBE at 13 parts per billion.
Water from one Tahoe Meadows well tested below one part per billion MTBE, but the other tested at 260 parts per billion, well above the acceptable standard, said Harold Singer, water board executive director.
Officials found that water from the well with lower concentrations of MTBE had potentially hazardous levels of PCE -- 33 parts per billion. Five parts per billion is the drinking water standard for PCE. The well with the higher concentrations of MTBE also contained water with 3.7 parts per billion PCE.
The two wells are near each other in the Tahoe Meadows subdivision.
As a precautionary measure, residents or visitors to Tahoe Meadows should not drink or shower with water from their wells until the wells have been tested, especially if an unusual smell is detected.
Singer noted the municipal water supply provided by South Tahoe Public Utility District has not been contaminated.
Water board staff went door-to-door Friday to warn people of the potential danger.
Because the wells are private, residents must request a test before the water board can complete one. Water board staff will test wells for free and was working through the Labor Day weekend.
By Sunday, more than 20 wells had been sampled. The first round of samples had been sent for testing, with results expected back today, a water board representative said.
People wanting to test their wells over the holiday weekend should call (530) 721-1150 or (530) 721-0636.
When offices reopen on Tuesday, people wanting their wells tested should call (530) 542-5400.
MTBE is a gasoline additive; PCE is commonly used in dry-cleaning aerosols. Both may cause health problems, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board staff discovered the contamination after someone complained about the foul taste of the water at a home in the subdivision, about one mile west of Stateline along Lake Tahoe's shore.
Drinking water health standards put the maximum level of MTBE at 13 parts per billion.
Water from one Tahoe Meadows well tested below one part per billion MTBE, but the other tested at 260 parts per billion, well above the acceptable standard, said Harold Singer, water board executive director.
Officials found that water from the well with lower concentrations of MTBE had potentially hazardous levels of PCE -- 33 parts per billion. Five parts per billion is the drinking water standard for PCE. The well with the higher concentrations of MTBE also contained water with 3.7 parts per billion PCE.
The two wells are near each other in the Tahoe Meadows subdivision.
As a precautionary measure, residents or visitors to Tahoe Meadows should not drink or shower with water from their wells until the wells have been tested, especially if an unusual smell is detected.
Singer noted the municipal water supply provided by South Tahoe Public Utility District has not been contaminated.
Water board staff went door-to-door Friday to warn people of the potential danger.
Because the wells are private, residents must request a test before the water board can complete one. Water board staff will test wells for free and was working through the Labor Day weekend.
By Sunday, more than 20 wells had been sampled. The first round of samples had been sent for testing, with results expected back today, a water board representative said.
People wanting to test their wells over the holiday weekend should call (530) 721-1150 or (530) 721-0636.
When offices reopen on Tuesday, people wanting their wells tested should call (530) 542-5400.
