Citywide precautionary boil water notice likely to be lifted by Tuesday

Austin Water says the city is expected to be under boil notice until Tuesday evening

Five distribution sites have been set up throughout the city for those who don't have the option to boil water. The notice is a result of a staffing error at the Ullrich Water Treatment Plant.

AUSTIN, Texas - Austin Water has issued a city-wide precautionary boil water notice due to issues with one of its water treatment plants. Greg Meszaros, Austin Water Director, estimates the notice will be lifted by Tuesday evening, but says that cannot be confirmed yet.

Meszaros stressed that, contrary to popular belief, the boil water notice was not caused by the winter storm Austin just had. Instead, it was caused by something unexpected.

"It's becoming clear that this was an error from our operating staff at our Ullrich Plant oversights and how they attended the process of treating water at Ullrich. That's certainly unacceptable to us," said Meszaros.

A staffing error resulted in the entire Ullrich Water Treatment Plant to go down causing the city-wide boil water notice. Something Meszaros says had never happened before.

Austin water is taking steps to lift the boil water notice. Currently, the plant is back online and is operating at normal production levels, but now officials must begin testing samples to show there are no water quality issues.

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"Turbidity is a primary measure. This is the most important thing that we do along with disinfection and just was not something that we can take our eye off," said Meszaros.

Austin Water is currently maintaining water service to customers by increasing water production at Davis and Handcox Water Treatment Plants and by carefully managing pumping within the network of water pipelines. There have been no power disruptions at drinking water plants.

Any water recovered from plumbing systems should be boiled before drinking or cooking with it following the guidelines.

In addition to the boil water notice, Austin Water has issued emergency water use restrictions, effective immediately, to ensure water is available for firefighting and basic needs.

Water use restrictions are authorized under §6-4-20 of Chapter 6-4 Water Conservation of Austin Municipal Code to protect public health, safety, welfare, infrastructure, or available resources in the event of an unusual water system operational event, catastrophic occurrence, severe weather event, or other emergency disaster situation which necessitates such restrictions.

Austin Water gives update on Boil Water Notice

Austin Water Director says the notice is likely to be lifted by Tuesday evening. A fifth water distribution site has been opened.

Water distribution centers open on Monday, Feb. 7

Travis County Expo Center

Address: 7311 Decker Lane, Austin, TX 78724
Hours: 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Travis County Tax Office - Southeast

Address: 4011 McKinney Falls Parkway, Austin, TX 78744
Hours: 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park

Address: 12138 North Lamar Boulevard, Austin, TX 78753
Hours: 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex

Address: 10211 W Parmer Ln, Austin, TX 78717
Hours: 12 p.m.- 8 p.m.

Southeast Metropolitan Park

Address: 4511 State Hwy 71, Del Valle, TX 78724
Hours: 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Austin Water Glen Bell Service Center

Address: 3907 S. Industrial Dr, Austin, TX 78744
Hours: Open 24 Hours
NOTE: Customers must bring an empty water container.

Austin Water North Service Center

Address: 901 W Koenig Ln, Austin, TX 78756
Hours: Open 24 Hours
NOTE: Customers must bring an empty water container.

Residential Customers

During this period, residential customers are asked to curtail indoor water use as much as possible. Until further notice, all outdoor water use is prohibited.

Residential customers may not:

Use water for irrigation or testing of irrigation equipment.
Wash vehicles, including at commercial car wash facilities.
Wash pavement or other surfaces.
Add water to a pool or spa.
Conduct foundation watering.
Operate an ornamental fountain or pond, other than aeration necessary to support aquatic life.

Residents of the Austin area can access an interactive online map to check if their address is located in an area affected by the boil water notice.

Commercial Customers

All commercial customers are required to reduce water use unless needed for health and safety. Manufacturing customers, specifically those that use an average of over 100,000 gallons per day, are asked to reduce water use as much as possible.

Commercial customers may not:

Use water for irrigation (including athletic fields).
Conduct commercial car washing.

Retail customers of Wholesale Districts

The above boil water notice and emergency water use restrictions are also in effect for retail customers of Austin Water Wholesale Districts and Utilities, including: