Officials Say Tap Water In Barstow Is Now Safe

BARSTOW (AP) — The ban on drinking tap water in the Mojave Desert town of Barstow has been lifted, four days after tests showed the water was tainted with a chemical used in rocket fuel.

Golden State Water Co. ended the ban Tuesday after tests showed the water meets all drinking water standards. The ban is still in effect for a veterans home because it's in a separate water pressure zone.

Also on Tuesday, state water officials launched an investigation into how perchlorate found its way into the water supply.

Investigators were sampling private wells to determine the extent of the contamination in the ground, and where it originated. Last Thursday, water samples taken from a well at Marine Corps Logistics Base showed high levels of perchlorate. Further tests prompted the ban.

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