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Growing concern after video shows man using outside water pipes

A spokesperson for the City's Public Utilities Department, says the pipes appear to be backflow devices, but they are not sure if they belong to the city or not.

SAN DIEGO — For people living on the streets, finding clean water can be challenging. 

There are new concerns about how some people are getting their water. 

Cellphone video shows a man, who appears to be unhoused, washing clothes in the middle of the day with water coming from large pipes. The pipes are located near an apartment complex in Mission Valley, where residents say this happens often.

“I’ve seen people bathing at these pipes, people filling, like, massive five gallon water buckets, one woman filled one up put it on her skateboard and skated away with it," said Mandalyn Gilles, who lives nearby.

CBS 8 reached out to Councilmember Raul Campillo's office Thursday. Campillo's spokesperson said this is the first they have heard of this, and are looking into it. 

A spokesperson for the City’s Public Utilities Department, says the pipes appear to be backflow devices, but they are not sure if they belong to the city or not.

Gilles says she wonders how much water is being used.

“I don’t know who’s paying for this, I don’t know if they’re turning it off after they’re using it. I do have a lot of empathy for people that are in need right now especially with it being really hot," she added.

The city spokesperson added that if people are opening the pipes on private property, then the property owner would have to either secure the pipes themselves or file a police report.

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