San Jose’s main water utility failed to report E. coli sample

San Jose Water failed to report and conduct a formal investigation into an E. coli sample discovered at one of its wells, according to San Jose City Councilmember Rosemary Kamei.

In an emailed communication sent out Tuesday afternoon, Kamei said the bacteria was detected on May 5 from a routine sample at one of the water utility company’s groundwater sites. The well was immediately taken offline while a follow-up sample was drawn and the water was not delivered to any resident’s homes, Kamei said.

The councilmember said the state requires that water providers notify officials within 24 hours of any positive E. coli samples — and conduct a formal investigation within 30 days.

“Regrettably, this requirement was not met in this case,” the councilmember wrote in her communication. The city, she said, was notified about the utility company’s reporting and investigative failures on July 17. A notice will be sent to about 17,000 customers who reside in Districts 1 and 6, she said.

“As your Vice Mayor, my utmost priority is your safety,” Kamei wrote. “While this incident is not classified as an emergency, I encourage you to remain vigilant. If you experience any unusual symptoms, particularly gastrointestinal issues, and they persist, please consult a healthcare professional.”

According to a spokesperson for the utility company, follow-up sampling showed no positive indications that E. coli was present at the well in question.

“San Jose Water failed to notify (the state’s Division of Drinking Water) due to internal communication errors,” wrote spokesperson Suzanne DeLorenzo in a statement. “A Corrective Action Plan was developed, and corrective measures have been implemented to ensure proper communication of sample results.”

San Jose Water is an investor-owned public utility that serves approximately one million people.

This is a developing story and will be updated.