Recycled water error - businesses close down ...

Excerpt from San Diego Union Tribune:

Mistake by Otay district crippled sales, owners say

2 November 2007

Chula Vista – Two food merchants in a Chula Vista business park are shutting down because sales have come to a near standstill after customers found out the business park was hooked up to treated sewage water for two years.

Dream Dinners and Candy Bouquet owners said revenue has dwindled and foot traffic at the Fenton Business Center has nearly ceased since it was discovered in August that the Otay Water District mistakenly connected a recycled-water pipe to a meter for drinking water.

The problem was corrected as soon as it was discovered, but the public's confidence was shaken, merchants say.

“It has pretty much scared away all of our business,” said Angela Mason, co-owner of Candy Bouquet.

Alice Landry, who bought 12 meals a month from Dream Dinners, said she could not return.

“It was just something psychologically that I couldn't get past,” Landry said. “It was just so shocking and repulsive.”

Dream Dinners closed last Friday after opening 13 months ago.

“We wish we could have stayed open a little longer to try to get over this incident, but financially we can't recover from it,” said Dream Dinners co-owner Jennifer Kober. “This is definitely our life savings, so we feel it.”

Mason and Kober said that before they found out employees of the 17 businesses in the park were drinking treated sewage water, sales were strong. On their attorneys' advice, the business owners at the park would not reveal sales figures.

When the business park opened in July 2005, Otay blended recycled water with drinkable water. In May, Otay reached a deal to buy recycled water from the city of San Diego and began flowing 100 percent recycled water into the drinking water pipes.

Merchants began complaining and water district workers inspected but found nothing wrong. The center's property manager then sent the water to a private lab, and the results showed the water contained coliform bacteria, which indicates contamination.

Last month, 10 of the business owners filed claims against the Otay Water District and the city of Chula Vista, alleging both were negligent in improperly installing and inspecting the center's water system. Each claim seeks more than $25,000 for medical expenses, lost business and emotional distress, but no specific monetary amount.

Merchants at the center say Dream Dinners and Candy Bouquet brought in a majority of the foot traffic. Several are considering relocating.

“We want people to feel comfortable coming,” said Josie Monreal, owner of Eastlake Party Rentals. “Customers ask about the water. They say, 'Are you OK?' It's embarrassing.”

Josh Bristol of Elements Home Enhancement said his sales have taken a beating.

“We had to take out a $30,000 loan just to get us through the month of September, and that money is gone,” he said. “We're teetering on the brink.”

Dennis Lewis Sr., an Ohio businessman who is one of the business park's owners, said he is concerned about his tenants, which is why he paid for the water to be tested when Otay said there was nothing wrong.

“We fully support our tenants and are concerned not only about their business health but also their personal health,” he said. “We made a genuine effort to get to the bottom of the problem.”

See - Recycled water forces business closures.

And this is the US where potable reuse is supposed to be done 'everywhere'.

Sounds like some community education is in order ...