Water Reportedly Contaminated At LAX International Terminal

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com/AP) — Los Angeles International Airport has been dealing with contaminated water at its international terminal, according to a newspaper report.

The Los Angeles Times reports Saturday that LAX has shut off water to several gates in the Tom Bradley International Terminal, which is currently undergoing a $1.9-billion transformation.

The Times cited airport emails indicating the water being pumped to aircraft gates has turned brown and carries bacteria, metal and rust from the building's plumbing.

"It is also not unusual for plumbing in buildings to sometimes cause water to become discolored resulting in conditions that reduce the amount of chlorine disinfectant present in the water," according to a statement released by LAX Friday.

LAX officials insist water inside the terminal isn't affected.

Tests showed acceptable levels of chlorine "meaning water at the airport...is safe to drink," according to LAX spokesperson Nancy Suey Castles.

However, chlorine levels at some of the international gates did not meet airline standards and the airport temporarily shut off water to 13 gates. As of Saturday morning, the shut-off was limited to five gates.

Several carriers have resorted to stocking up on bottled water or transporting water from other terminals. This can cause flight delays.

Castles said airport officials are looking at the relevant parts of the water system to isolate and address any water quality issues.

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