Utah city distributing bottled water due to contamination

A Salt Lake City suburb is distributing bottled water to residents of approximately 600 homes in an area where tests show the city’s tap water is contaminated with lead and copper.

Sandy officials on Saturday said on Facebook that residents of the affected area shouldn’t drink tap water or use it for cooking until lab tests confirm that it is safe.

Officials said the contamination resulted from a fluoride pump malfunctioning due to a storm-related power outage.

They said the problem was discovered Feb. 7 and was initially thought to affect a “few dozen homes” but that later test results on Friday showed contamination in a wider area.

State officials said they had pressed Sandy officials to provide test results earlier.

The affected area also includes care homes and schools.