-- ADVISORY –
Water Service Returns to Normal in LAX Terminal 6
UPDATE--FINAL: 2:45 a.m. on Thursday, March 14, 2013
Los Angeles County Public Health officials notified airport officials at 2:30 a.m. that results of water-quality tests at Terminal 6 "are below levels of public health concern." All temporary equipment will be removed and operations in the terminal are expected to return to normal within 30 minutes.
Thursday morning flights, which begin at 6 a.m. are expected to depart as scheduled. Airport officials thank passengers and tenants in Terminal 6 for their patience and understanding during this incident.
UPDATE #2: 10:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 13, 2013
The situation in Terminal 6 remains the same, as airport workers continue to flush the water system, and utility and public health officials test and analyze water samples. Results of preliminary field tests show water quality exceeds requirements. However, official lab tests are still required, which airport officials expect to be completed and results known early Thursday morning. No flights have been reported delayed or cancelled, and flight operations are winding down for the evening. Morning flights are not expected to be impacted and should depart as scheduled. Since 6:30 p.m., airport staff has distributed food and snacks to passengers, airline and other terminal workers. Passengers also may access food-and-beverage concessions in Terminals 5 and 7. Bottled water has been distributed throughout the day. Restrooms remain open with hand sanitizers and portable hand-washing sinks were installed in the restrooms earlier this evening.
UPDATE #1: 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Airport staff continues to flush and test all the water lines and will notify airlines, passengers and employees when the water is approved by public health officials for drinking. In the meantime, food-and-beverage concessions remain temporarily closed, but passengers can access food-and-beverage concessions in Terminals 5 and 7. Airport workers continue to provide bottled water to passengers and employees, as well as staff restrooms to provide hand wipes and hand sanitizers. There are no reported flight delays or cancellations. This situation is expected to continue until further notice.
STATEMENT: 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Early this morning, LAX Airport Operations was notified by a contractor working on a pump room on the lower level of Terminal 6, associated with Central Utility Plant construction, that a cross-contamination incident occurred in the potable water line with a non-potable line (recycled chilled air-conditioning water), sometime between 7:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.
All airlines and concessionaires were immediately notified. Airport staffers were immediately dispatched to all restrooms, covered water fountains in the terminal, and notified the public to not drink the water. The restrooms remain open and airport staff is distributing hand wipes and hand sanitizers to restroom users. All food-and-beverage concessions in Terminal 6 discontinued using the water and are temporarily closed under public safety requirements. Passengers have been directed to use food-and-beverage concessions in adjacent Terminals 5 and 7, which are connected by corridors beyond TSA passenger security screening. Retail shops remain open.
Airport staff will distribute bottled water for passengers and employees. This situation is expected to continue through tonight. There have been no reports of flight delays or cancellations. All airlines in Terminal 6 have portable, potable water for departing flights. The water system in Terminal 6 is being flushed and the water will be tested before passengers and food-and-beverage concessions are allowed to use it again.
