Nearly 14,000 thirsty people in San Diego can turn their taps back on, officials said Wednesday.
Residents and businesses from Torrey Pines to Pacific Highlands Ranch were hit with a "boil-water" order from county health authorities Monday. Late on Wednesday morning, the San Diego Water Department canceled the order.
The order was issued after a major water main break in a low-lying area of the the Torrey Pines State Reserve just after 9 p.m. Sunday. It took city utility crews about five hours to restore water service through another main.
Since the section of 24-inch, ductile iron pipe was installed 43 years ago, extensive environmental regulations have been applied to the habitat and watershed in Torrey Pines. As a result, the repair project had to be handled carefully, with input from a number of experts, so it took nearly three days to complete.
The affected residents lived in Carmel Valley, Torrey Hills, Del Mar Mesa and Pacific Highlands Ranch. About 150 eating establishments, including schools with food-service facilities, were hit by the order, too.
For households, it meant boiling water for a full minute before using it for cooking, drinking or brushing teeth. Most residents, however, probably turned to bottled water.
