Several Central Texas cities issue boil water notices

AUSTIN, Texas - Several cities in Central Texas have issued boil water notices as power outages at distribution centers have caused problems with potability. 

Austin

Austin Water has issued a citywide boil water notice due to power loss at the agency's largest water treatment facility.

Austin Water says it has worked with Austin Energy to quickly assess the system and restore power and is working to bring the Ullrich Water Treatment Plant back online.

Austin Water says it's working with the City's Emergency Operations Center to address the needs of critical customers, including hospitals and power plants. Austin Water says it does not have a timeline on when full service will be restored at this time.

Austin Water says treatment plants are operating in a stable mode at this time, but they are facing significant challenges to restore water distribution throughout the system. The citywide boil water notice continues, and all customers are asked to boil water for drinking and cooking.

Any water recovered from plumbing systems should be boiled before drinking or cooking with it following the guidelines at www.austintexas.gov/page/boil-water-notice-and-faqs

Water pressure and water storage have significantly dropped throughout Austin Water’s service area in the past day.

The combination of burst pipes at homes or businesses, Austin Water system water main breaks, and increased customer demand from dripping faucets or storing extra water are creating extraordinary high-water demand.

To avoid additional impacts to water service, impacts to fire protection, or widespread lack of water service, Austin Water is immediately requiring mandatory conservation measures:

• Limit water use to essential needs
• Now that temperatures are rising, turn off dripping faucets indoors and outdoors
• Delay the use of appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers
• Report water main breaks to Austin Water at 512-972-1000
• If pipes at your home or business have burst, stop water waste by turning off your water at the property-owners cut-off valve. If you are unable to locate your property-owners cut-off valve or if it won’t work, then call Austin Water at 512-972-1000 for assistance with turning off your water. 

Lago Vista

Due to a malfunctioning of a water treatment plant, reduced capacity of the other plant, and loss of communications with the water system which have caused a reduced distribution system pressure; the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has required the City of Lago Vista public water system to notify all customers to boil their water prior to consumption.

To ensure destruction of all harmful  bacteria and other microbes, water for drinking,  cooking, and ice making should be boiled and cooled prior to use for drinking water or human consumption purposes. The water should be brought to a vigorous rolling boil and then boiled for two minutes.

In lieu of boiling, individuals may purchase bottled water or obtain water from some other suitable source for drinking water or human consumption purposes.

Pflugerville

The City of Pflugerville issued a boil water notice Monday advising customers of their public water system to boil any water prior to consumption. This comes after power outages caused their water distribution pressures to fall.

The city says due to a prolonged power outage at the water treatment plant that has caused water distribution pressures to fall below 20 psi, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has required the City of Pflugerville public water system to notify all customers to boil their water prior to consumption (e.g., washing hands/face, brushing teeth, drinking, etc).

Officials add that children, seniors, and persons with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to harmful bacteria, and all customers should follow these directions. To ensure the destruction of all harmful bacteria and other microbes, water for drinking, cooking, and ice making should be boiled and cooled prior to use for drinking water or human consumption purposes.

The water should be brought to a vigorous rolling boil and then boiled for two minutes. In lieu of boiling, individuals may purchase bottled water or obtain water from some other suitable source for drinking water or human consumption purposes. When it is no longer necessary to boil the water, the public water system officials say they will notify customers that the water is safe for drinking water or human consumption purposes. Once the boil water notice is no longer in effect, the public water system will also issue a notice to customers that rescinds the boil water notice  

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The city is asking that you please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses).  

The City of Pflugerville has been actively working with Oncor, the electric service provider for the area to get an estimated timeline of when repairs will be made and when they should expect to see power restored to the water treatment plant to allow them to properly treat water again which will allow the City to bring water distribution pressures back to their normal levels.  

As the city does not currently have an estimated time for repairs to be made to the electric infrastructure, they recommend gathering two gallons of potable water for every member of your household for a 72-hour period. The city recommends doing this by collecting water dripping from your faucets to prevent freezing.

City of Pflugerville issued a tweet Thursday morning saying they are slowly pressurizing, which coud allow water pressure to increase throughout the day, but the city says there is still a significant amount of water to pump out to continue to fill the system and meet demand.

The city asks customers continue to conserve water, boil before consumption, and if you have any water emergencies contact.

Lakeside Water Control and Improvement District

The Lakeside Water Control and Improvement District Nos. 1, 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D, all of which serve the Blackhawk community, situated in the extraterritorial jurisdiction of the City of Pflugerville, just to the Northeast of the intersection of Hwy 45 and SH 130) have issued a boil water notice.

The Districts receive wholesale water service from Manville Water Supply Corporation and have contracted with the City of Pflugerville to operate, maintain, and manage the water facilities and services within their boundaries.

Due to severe weather conditions and power outages, Manville and Pflugerville have both issued Boil Water Notices.  Although these Notices are applicable to the Districts’ customers (who are served by the Manville—Pflugerville—Districts combined distribution system), the Districts have opted to issue their own Boil Water Notices to ensure, out of an abundance of caution, that their customers are aware that they are subject to the Boil Water Notices issued by Manville and Pflugerville.

Manville Water Supply Corporation

The City of Pflugerville Twitter account also tweeted that Manville Water Supply Corporation also issued a boil water notice.

Taylor

Officials in Taylor issued a boil water notice Monday evening as well. The city is saying residents throughout the city will be experiencing low or no water pressure until power has been restored. The city says the Brazos River Authority is working to restore power at the plant, but until further notice all city water customers must boil their water prior to consumption.

The City of Taylor continues to monitor this ongoing and fluid situation closely. The city says updates will be posted at taylortx.gov and on social media as they become available.  For more information, please visit www.taylortx.gov. If you have questions concerning this matter, the city asks you contact Anthony Paddock at 512-779-5412.

Georgetown, Florence, and Liberty Hill

A boil water notice is also being issued for City of Georgetown water customers in the Florence and Liberty Hill areas due to a lack of system pressure. As extended, sub-freezing temperatures continue, other areas of the city could be required to boil water.

The notice has been extended to include other areas including:

• Leander Road/FM2243 area, from Southwest Bypass to Garey Park and the Parkside Parkway area, from FM2243 to Sam Bass Road (about 1,300 customers)
• DB Wood Road/HWY-29 area, bound by IH-35, DB Wood Road, HWY 29, and Williams Drive. The includes the area of Booty's Crossing Road, Serenada Neighborhood, portions of Berry Creek Neighborhood, and Wolf Ranch Northfork and Southfork (about 3,600 customers)
• The Westinghouse area, from IH-35 to FM1460 (about 1,700 customers)
• Areas west of Georgetown, including Santa Rita, Northlake, and Andice (about 11,000 customers)

The city says Georgetown residents should prepare by:

• Collecting two gallons of potable water for every member of your household for a 72-hour period. You can collect the water dripping from your faucets to prevent freezing.
• Filling a bathtub with water. This water can be used for washing and flushing the toilet.
• Limiting other water use, including not flushing when unnecessary.

The city says prolonged, freezing temperatures and power outages required by ERCOT have affected water and wastewater plant operations, resulting in freezing and breaking of pipes and equipment and communications failures to the point that treatment and distribution facilities are struggling to maintain the water pressure required by law.

The city clarified Tuesday afternoon that the water/wastewater treatment plants served by the City of Georgetown electric utility are not affected by the ongoing rotating outages. The city says some of the pump stations and lift stations are being affected on a rotating basis resulting in low pressures. The City seys it also has a wastewater treatment plant and some pump stations that are served by other electric utility companies, including Oncor and Pedernales Electric Cooperative.

Thursday the City of Georgetown says the utility has made progress with major leak repairs and is currently refilling the system. Customers should continue to conserve water, using only what is absolutely necessary until the system is recovered and the boil water notice is lifted.

The city says the capacity of the water system is still impacted by loss of pumping capacity due to subfreezing cold and icing. Water utility employees are working continuously to repair impacted equipment to restore the system to full capacity.

For additional information and updates on this issue in Georgetown, go to the City of Georgetown website.

Leander

The City of Leander issued a statement Tuesday saying: "At this time, all city customers may be experiencing either a reduction or loss of water service. Regardless of service level, a boil water notice is in effect for all water customers. Full restoration of service is unknown at this time."

The City of Leander says they are working to reactivate public water facilities critically affected by organized Pedernales Electric power outages in order to immediately restore water service to customers. However, the city says water outages are expected to continue until weather improves and regional electricity stabilizes.The city says this means Leander customers could be without water for at least two more days, or more.

The city announced Thursday that water treatment operations are now functioning as their system slowly improves. The city says some customers may have water service, but most still do not. Please conserve if you do! Follow this page for updates 

Kyle and Uhland

County Line Special Utility District, a potable water utility serving the eastern side of The City of Kyle and The City of Uhland, issued this statement Tuesday night: "Due to the freezing weather and rolling power outages, our water storage tanks are low. We would like to issue a Boil Water Notice as a precaution for our customers."

Goforth Special Utility District

The Goforth Special Utility District says due to rolling blackouts and anticipated low water pressure the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has required the Goforth Special Utility District public water system to notify all customers to boil their water prior to consumption.

Travis County WCID No. 17

Out of an abundance of caution due to extremely cold temperatures, as well as ongoing power outages to critical infrastructure, customers in the Travis County WCID No.17 service area, other than Steiner Ranch, may be experiencing a reduction or loss of water service. Full restoration of service is ongoing but unknown at this time.

A boil water notice is in effect for customers in the Travis County WCID No.17 service areas with the exception of those in Steiner Ranch. Please refer to WCID No. 17 for boil water notice status updates.

The areas under the notice are Apache Shores, Comanche Trail, Flintrock, River Ridge, and Serene Hills.

Buda

Rolling power outages within the City of Buda’s water system has caused water distribution pressures to fall below 20 psi for east Onion Creek, including the neighborhoods of Old Town/Downtown Buda, Sequoyah, Bonita Vista, Bradfield Village, Ashford Park, and commercial area along I-35.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has required the City of Buda public water system to notify affected customers to boil their water prior to consumption 

San Marcos

Effective today, February 17, 2021, the City of San Marcos is issuing a boil water advisory for all City of San Marcos water customers due to water pressure dropping within the distribution system. The city says it is also critical that residents conserve electricity as San Marcos Electric Utility works to restore power to those affected by local outages across the City.  

The city says with low water pressures being a result of power interruptions caused by the current weather crisis, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is requiring the City to issue a boil water advisory until normal pressures resume and water quality laboratory results show no contamination.  The city adds this is only a precautionary measure and does not mean that your water is contaminated, only that there is a possibility of contamination. 

Fentress, Prairie Lea and Stairtown

Tri-Community Water Supply Corporation has issued a boil water mandate until further notice for the towns of Fentress, Prairie Lea and Stairtown. TCW says it is working diligently to refill the water towers to restore pressure to the system and is asking customers to be patient while service is being restored.

Those without water are asked to check their meters to see if it is turning. If it is, property owners should walk their perimeter to check for any line breaks. Those with very little pressure may have partially frozen pipes or a broken line.

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