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Some Water Restrictions Lifted In Barstow

BARSTOW (AP) — Officials have lifted restrictions on drinking water for about half the residents in Barstow, where excessive levels of a chemical found in rocket fuel contaminated the water supply three days ago.

 
 

The Golden State Water Company said Sunday that residents who live west of H Street can resume drinking water after flushing all hot and cold taps for about five minutes.

Residences and businesses on the east side of H Street remain under the restriction and are urged not use water for drinking or cooking.

The company says it learned Thursday that samples showed levels of perchlorate above the maximum contaminant level of six parts per billion, according to a statement posted on the city's Web site. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger was prompted to declare a state of emergency in Barstow Saturday, saying more than 40,000 customers of Golden State Water Company are without their normal safe drinking water supply, and many businesses including hotels and restaurants have been forced to close.

The governor's declaration releases state resources otherwise unavailable to the city.

Perchlorate has been shown to interfere with the uptake of iodide by the thyroid gland, which could lead to adverse effects on hormone levels. Boiling and filtering do not help.

(© Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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