A second round of tests on a Las Lomas water system came back negative for mercury in 90 percent of the samples analyzed, a California Water Service Co. said. 
The latest round of testing on water samples taken during the weekend showed Tuesday ``non-detect'' levels of the metal in nine out of 10 samples in the water system, with one test coming back positive for mercury contamination, according to the company.
More tests are expected this week after water company workers noticed Saturday a water storage tank at the end of Las Lomas Drive had been tampered with. The Monterey Count Sheriff's Office is investigating whether someone contaminated the tank, which serves about 3,000 customers between Sill and Garin roads.Jim Smith, a spokesman for California Water Service, said the single positive test showed above two parts per billion of mercury. Two parts per billion or below is the safe drinking standard.
``Our No. 1 concern is that customers get back online and get high-quality water,'' Smith said.
No wells serving the water system tested positive for mercury, he said, and the contaminated tank has been isolated and the entire system flushed.But residents who are served by the water system are still under a ``no drink order'' pending further testing, which means residents will have to rely on bottled water for at least a week, Smith said.
He said the company has been receiving calls from people served by the tank who are complaining of sore throats or headaches. The company is telling them to seek medical help.
Smith said someone would have to be exposed to heightened levels of mecury for a long period to fall ill from it.
Sueanne Buggy, a spokeswoman for the California Department of Public Health, said service to customers can't resume until the department's labs verify California Water Service's tests and confirm the water is safe.
The cause of the contamination in a water tank is thought to be vandalism, but the matter is still under investigation by the Sheriff's Office. No one in the Sheriff's Office was available Tuesday to comment on the matter.
California Water Service personnel noticed the vandalism during a routine visit to the water tank Saturday. Workers noticed the tank's ladder lock was missing and the hatch at the top had been forced opened.
On Sunday, when initial test results came back showing heightened mercury levels, water company workers went door to door, notifying residents not to drink from their faucets.
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