Don’t drink from Honey Run Creek

The Butte County Public Health Department recently released a public notice warning residents not to drink water from Honey Run Creek after an investigation revealed elevated levels of benzene, toluene and other petrochemical contaminants in the water, according to a press release.

A preliminary investigation indicated that the contamination is the result of a petroleum-based substance leaking into the water. The contamination appears to originate in the vicinity of Bille Road and the Skyway, and the chemical levels exceed California’s maximum levels for drinking water. Residents should also keep children and pets away from the creek.

An active investigation involving the state and several local authorities is under way. The health department has found no indication that the public drinking water for the town of Paradise is unsafe.