The Arizona Republic is reporting that the Scottsdale/Paradise Valley tap water ban has been extended indefinitely. It was previously set to expire on Friday, January 18.

Until more is known, we caution readers from the affected area against any use of the contaminated water - whether for bathing, washing, cooking, feeding pets, etc since TCE can cause harm whether ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin.

In the meantime, we're in the process of obtaining reliable information about in-home water filtration and will post it here as soon as we have it.

Update: We have learned that EPA's official position is that people shouldn't drink the water, but are OK to shower in it. We feel this as an irresponsible recommendation since EPA knows that showering in contaminated water results in exposure comparable to that from drinking tap-water. As the Children's Environmental Health Project reminds us:

Dermal absorption is also a route of exposure to contaminants that are found in soil, air and water. For example, exposure may occur via bathing, showering or immersion in contaminated natural swimming water and, therefore, through direct skin absorption. There has been considerable study concerning the exposure in bath, shower and chlorinated pool water to chlorine disinfection by-products. Inhalation and dermal absorption are the two most likely routes of exposure to certain of these substances.

Similarly, ATSDR confirms:

Dermal absorption of contaminants in water occurs during bathing, showering, or swimming and may be a significant route of exposure depending on the substance-specific characteristics.

[...]

In some model shower experiments, about 40–60% of tricholoroethylene (TCE) in water was volatilized to the air, depending on water temperature and other factors (Andelman 1985). A one-compartment exposure model used by Maslia et al. (1996) indicated that exposure to TCE by inhalation during shower is nearly identical to that of ingesting water contaminated with TCE.

Though the levels of contamination have reportedly dropped below the 5ppb MCL, we still advise against any use of the water until it is officially cleared for drinking.