SAN DIEGO (KGTV) -- The San Diego County Board of Supervisors on Wednesday decided to give Poway businesses financial support in the wake of last week’s boil water advisory.
After residents reported discolored tap water on Nov. 29., the city declared a boil water advisory that ended up lasting a week. During that time, 190 businesses in Poway were forced to close their doors.
Tap water was compromised when rainwater entered the water system, city officials said. Officials said the site of the rainwater contamination, the Clearwell Reservoir, was disinfected and refilled earlier last week.
In the midst of the shutdown, 21 city businesses paid $459 for a modified health permit that allowed them to remain open.
The special permit allowed the businesses to operate under restricted conditions that included selling food that required minimal to no food preparation. For many of the businesses, this was the only way to keep afloat during the week without water.
Supervisor Dianne Jacob proposed giving the businesses their money back, with the county covering just under $10,000.
In a 4-0 vote, the board decided to waive the $459 permit fee and reimburse the costs for businesses that already received a modified health permit.
The county will cover just under $10,000, 10News learned.
“It’s not a lot of money, but every little bit helps when you have suffered losses in the last week; to a lot of them it’s a big deal,” Jacob said.
Jacob added that she'll be doing her part by dining in Poway "and giving large tips."
City News Service contributed to this report.
