One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.
'Do-not-drink' water order lifted at Cecil Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles where body was found
The Hotel Cecil in downtown Los Angeles, where Canadian tourist Elisa Lam was last seen.
(
Eric Zassenhaus/KPCC
)
Health officials have lifted the "do-not-drink" order at the Hotel Cecil in Downtown Los Angeles.
They had advised hotel guests last week not to drink or use the water after a maintenance worker discovered the body of Canadian tourist Elisa Lam in one of the hotel's rooftop water tanks.
Angelo Bellomo is the head of environmental health for LA County’s Department of Public Health.
“The hotel is now back on water service," Bellomo said. "It’s somewhat different than before in that the tank that was the location where the body was found is (now) no longer a part of the series of tanks that are conveying water into the building.”
RELATED: The long, dark history of the Cecil Hotel in downtown Los Angeles
Although initial tests last week showed the hotel’s water supply was clean, the department requires that the water system be disinfected, flushed and retested before lifting the order, Bellomo said. That was completed over the weekend.
He says more cleaning and repair is required for the tank where Lam’s body was found before it can be used again.
A maintenance worker discovered the remains of Lam, who was 21, in the rooftop water tank after guests had complained about lower water pressure. Detectives are still investigating the circumstances of her death.
Sponsored message
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
