Bay Area city of Mountain View declares state of emergency as more than 60 houses remain without drinkable water

Caelyn Pender, Bay Area News Group on Apr 29, 2026

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SAN JOSE, Calif. — As more than 60 Mountain View households continue to be without drinkable water, the city council adopted a resolution declaring a state of emergency Tuesday night, allowing the city to seek reimbursement for expenses associated with fixing the problem.

About 67 households have been under a “Do Not Use Water” notice since Friday night after a slurry mix came into contact with a water main during a construction project. After water samples came back positive for coliform bacteria on Sunday, the timeline for an anticipated return of water was extended to the middle to end of this week.

The emergency declaration, which was declared Saturday, was formally approved Tuesday, said Lenka Wright, chief communications officer for the City of Mountain View.

“We’re all thinking of and doing our best for the residents affected by last Friday’s water main incident,” Wright said.

The water main was contaminated during an upgrade and repair project in the area of Bonita Avenue and Cuesta Drive. Impacted houses are located on Carla Court, Drucilla Drive, Montalto Drive, the 600-700 block of Leona Lane and the 600 block of Cuesta Drive. Over the weekend, city workers restored water — to be used for toilet flushing only — to the houses.

City workers have been working to flush out the water main and remove any remaining bacteria. Coliform is a type of intestinal bacteria found in many warm-blooded mammals, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Some types of coliform can grow from fecal bacteria, including the E.coli bacteria, potentially sickening people.

The city is continuing to offer resources for residents impacted by the water main contamination. This includes the option of hotel stays, reimbursement for various expenses and access to shower and bathroom facilities.

Public officials are planning a neighborhood meeting Friday for residents impacted by the water main incident, according to a news release. They are also preparing to issue a daily reimbursement rate of $92 per day per resident to impacted households to cover the cost of meals and other incidentals.

The city is also exploring options to cover the cost of water bills after residents express concerns about the increased costs associated with having to flush out their plumbing systems, officials said.

Residents can choose to request a hotel stay at one of several local options, which the city has partnered with through Monday to provide temporary housing, city officials said. The city also offers an alternative hotel reimbursement rate of $192 plus tax per night for residents who wish to choose another hotel.

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