St. Helena residents grapple with brown, undrinkable tap water amid aging pipes
Residents of St. Helena, California are forced to rely on bottled water because tap water has turned brown, smells bad and is unsafe to use, with officials blaming high iron and manganese levels and century-old pipes.
St. Helena, a upscale community in California’s wine region, is confronting a water crisis as tap water has turned brown, developed an unpleasant odor and become unsafe for everyday use, forcing residents to depend on bottled water and avoid bathing. City engineers point to high concentrations of iron and manganese that accumulate in the aging distribution network, which includes pipes older than a century, and note that the situation deteriorated after a bus collided with a fire hydrant in July, dislodging sediment.
Utility rates have surged 183 % between 2011 and 2023, and a recent civil grand jury report faulted the city’s leadership for chronic neglect and poor planning. Water-quality expert Dr. Issam Najm advises against drinking or cooking with the water, especially during summer demand peaks. The municipality has proposed a $50-$60 million system replacement that could take years, and households may receive a $200 rebate on their bills. Residents like hotel manager Patrice Viera and parents such as Ryan Crow-Enos describe the impact on laundry, linens and even infant clothing.
Why it matters
The crisis underscores how aging infrastructure can jeopardize safe drinking water and raise living costs for a community.
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