Elisa Lam Death: Officials analyze water in tank where missing Canadian woman was found dead
(CBS/AP) LOS ANGELES - Health officials issued a do-not-drink order at a downtown Los Angeles hotel on Tuesday after the body of a missing Canadian woman was found in the rooftop water tank.
PICTURES: Cops: Woman's body found in LA hotel water tank
The body of 21-year-old Elisa Lam was discovered Tuesday morning at the bottom of one of four cisterns on the roof of the historic Cecil Hotel near Skid Row. The tanks provide water for hotel taps and would have been used by guests for washing and drinking.
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health officials issued a do-not-drink order while its lab analyzes the water, said Terrance Powell, a director coordinating the department's response. The disclosure contradicts a previous police statement that the water was deemed safe. Results of the testing were expected Thursday morning.
Powell said the water was also used for cooking in the hotel. A coffee shop in the hotel would remain closed and was instructed to sanitize its food equipment before reopening.
"Our biggest concern is going to be fecal contamination because of the body in the water," Powell said. He said the likelihood of contamination is "minimal" given the large amount of water the body was found in, but the department is being extra cautious.
Powell said the hotel hired a water treatment specialist after the department required it to do so to disinfect its plumbing lines.
A maintenance worker at the hotel found Lam's remains after guests complained about low water pressure. Police are working to determine if her death was the result of foul play or an accident.
LAPD Sgt. Rudy Lopez called it suspicious and said a coroner's investigation will determine Lam's cause of death.
Before she died, hotel surveillance footage showed Lam inside an elevator pushing buttons and sticking her head out the doors, looking in both directions. She was later found in the water tank.
Lam traveled alone to Los Angeles from Vancouver, British Columbia on Jan. 26 and was last seen five days later by workers at the hotel. She intended to travel to Santa Cruz, about 350 miles north of Los Angeles. Officials said she tended to use public transportation and was in touch with her family daily until she disappeared.
Lopez said the hotel has four cisterns on its roof that are each about 10 feet tall, 4.5 feet wide and hold at least 1,000 gallons of water pumped up from city pipes.
Lam's body was found Tuesday morning at the bottom of one cistern that was about three-quarters full of water, Lopez said.
The opening at the top of the cistern is too small to accommodate firefighters and equipment, so they had to cut a hole in the storage tank to recover Lam's body.
The cisterns are on a platform at least 10 feet above the roof. To get to the tanks, someone would have to go to the top floor then take a staircase with a locked door and emergency alarm preventing roof access.
Another ladder would have to be taken to the platform and a person would have to climb the side of the tank.
Lopez said there are no security cameras on the roof.
The Cecil Hotel relocated guests in 27 rooms to another hotel on Wednesday, but 11 rooms remained filled, Powell said. Those who chose to remain in the hotel were required to sign a waiver in which they acknowledged being informed of the health risks and were being provided bottled water.
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Feb. 20, 2013 - Elisa Lam Death: Body of missing Canadian tourist found in LA hotel water tank, police say
