Dear Neighbors,
A little bit ago the City Manager informed me that Austin Water is issuing a PRECAUTIONARY BOIL WATER notice effective immediately. Austin Water is also asking each of us to conserve water. Below you will find the notice and available information on the cause and duration. You can find answers to frequently asked questions related to Boil Water notices in general below and at this link (Boil Water Notice and FAQs | AustinTexas.gov).
For those without the ability to boil water, the City will be operating water distribution locations. I will share distribution details as soon as I have them on my Facebook and Twitter and send an email.
I recognize this is not the news that any of us wanted to hear and I am sorry that this step is necessary. The immediate concern is to spread the word on the need to boil water and to act accordingly. In the coming days, we will investigate what led to this situation and take appropriate actions.
Sincerely,
Alison Alter
Mayor Pro Tem
Council Member, District 10
BOIL WATER NOTICE
A city-wide precautionary boil water notice has been issued. Austin Water’s Ullrich Water Treatment Plant is out of service due to an internal treatment process issue that resulted in high turbidity within the plant. Crews and officials are working diligently to address the issue and restore operations at Ullrich Water Treatment Plant.
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 at www.austintexas.gov/page/boil-water-notice-and-faqs.
For more information and updates, stay posted to local news, city social media, or visit us online at www.austinwater.org.
Mandatory Emergency Water Use Restrictions Issued due to Limited Treatment Capacity
Austin Water Director, Greg Meszaros, has issued emergency water use restrictions, effective at 7:30 p.m., on February 5, 2022.
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.
These emergency water use restrictions are necessary to ensure water is available for firefighting and basic needs.
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.
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:
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:
Night Hawk
Travis County WCID 10
Windermere
Creedmoor-Maha WSC
Morningside
Rivercrest
San Leanna
Marsha WSC
Wells Branch MUD
Northtown MUD
Manor
Rollingwood
Sunset Valley
High Valley
Mid-Tex Utilities
North Austin MUD 1
Official Notice Language
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) sets minimum water quality standards for public drinking water. One of these standards is a turbidity limit. Turbidity by itself has no health effects. However, turbidity can interfere with disinfection and provide a medium for microbial growth. Turbidity may also indicate the presence of disease-causing organisms. These organisms include bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can cause symptoms such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea, and associated headaches. These symptoms can be particularly severe in people who are not as resistant to infections as most of the population. If you experience severe symptoms, please consult with your doctor to determine what actions you should take.
Austin Water, PWS ID TX2270001, failed to meet the minimum treatment technique requirements for the month of February 2022. Specifically, our water system had a a multiple barrier failure treatment technique violation (CFE >1.0 NTU and IFE >2.0 NTU) and combined filter effluent turbidity (CFE) readings above 5.0 NTU.
Due to the nature and severity of this violation, the TCEQ has required us to issue this public notice and to tell all our customers that they should boil their water prior to consumption.
To ensure destruction of all harmful bacteria and other microbes, any water that you use for drinking, cooking, or ice making should be boiled prior to consumption. The water should be brought to a vigorous rolling boil and then boiled for two minutes. (Be sure to let it cool before drinking it.) In lieu of boiling, you may purchase bottled water or obtain water from some other suitable source. When it is no longer necessary to boil the water, we will notify you.
Please share this information with all people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (i.e., people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.
If you have questions regarding this matter, you may contact Austin Water’s Customer Service Center at Austin Water 512-972-1000.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Austin Water issue boil water notices?
As a precaution, Austin Water can request that customers boil their water or use bottled water until water sample lab test results become available.
What is a boil water notice?
A boil water notice is a public statement advising people to boil their tap water before using it, typically in response to an event that has (or could have) introduced contaminants into the water distribution system. Such events include a large water main break, widespread loss of system pressure, or results of routine sample testing in the system. Although waterborne diseases are extremely rare, they can be serious. The risk is higher for infants, the elderly and persons with immune deficiency disorders. Austin Water issues boil-water notices even if the possibility of contamination is remote to safeguard the health of the community.
What do I need to do to make sure my water is safe to drink and use?
You should boil tap water vigorously for at least two minutes prior to using it for drinking or cooking (the minute starts when the water begins to bubble). This includes water used for brushing teeth, making ice, washing raw foods, preparation of drinks and water for pets. Wait for the water to cool before using it or store it in the refrigerator in a clean container. Boiling removes harmful bacteria in the water that may cause illness. You should throw away ice made during the time the advisory or notice was issued, as freezing does not kill bacteria.
Is the water safe for washing dishes and laundry?
The water is safe for washing dishes, but you should use hot, soapy water (you may add one tablespoon of bleach per gallon as a precaution) and rinse dishes in boiled water. Household dishwashers generally are safe to use if the water reaches a final rinse temperature of at least 150 degrees Fahrenheit (65.55°Celsius), or if the dishwater has a sanitizing cycle.
There are no restrictions on doing laundry.
Is the water safe for brushing teeth, washing hands or bathing?
During a boil water notice, you can use tap water and soap to wash hands. Be sure to scrub your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and rinse well under running water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
While you can use tap water for bathing and showering, be careful not to swallow any water. Use caution when bathing babies and young children. Consider giving them a sponge bath to reduce the chance of them swallowing water.
Brush teeth with previously boiled or bottled water. Do not use untreated tap water.
How do I prepare food and baby formula?
Use boiled or bottled water only for drinking, cooking, making ice, washing fruits and vegetables, brushing teeth, making baby formula, bathing and cleaning.
Breast feed your baby or use ready-made formula. If you must use water to make formula, use bottled water. If you don’t have bottled water, use water that has been rapidly boiled for at least two (2) minutes.
What about my pets?
You should follow the same boiling water procedures for your pet as you would for yourself.
How long will the need to boil water continue?
Public notification will be given when a boil water notice or order is lifted. Typically the need to boil water lasts for 24 to 48 hours, but can be longer and may last for several days or more. How long will depend on the conditions that caused the need to boil, how quickly the conditions are corrected, and how long it takes for laboratory results to confirm it is safe to return to normal water use. Austin Water will provide updates on the progress of corrective actions and how long the event is expected to last.
What do I need to do when the notice has been lifted?
When it is no longer necessary to boil the water, Austin Water will notify you that the water is safe for consumption. You should flush household pipes, ice makers, water fountains, etc. prior to using for drinking or cooking. Flushing simply means letting the water run to ensure that there is fresh water flowing through your pipes. Follow the following guidelines for flushing:
Run all cold water faucets in your home for one minute
To flush automatic ice makers, make three batches of ice and discard
Run water softeners through a regeneration cycle
What if my water looks cloudy or milky when my water service returns?
A milky appearance in the water typically indicates that there is air in the water. If let a glass of water sit, you'll notice the bubbles will disperse and clear up. It also can be common for calcium deposits or sediment to show up when your water service returns. Austin Water recommends that customers flush their plumbing lines by running the bathtub faucet for two minutes. If the cloudy appearance persists after you’ve flushed your plumbing lines, please report the issue using Austin Water’s online form or by calling 512-972-1000.
Do I need to have my tap water tested once the boil water notice is lifted?
Customers do not need to independently have their water tested at their tap, nor does Austin Water hire individuals to solicit at-home water sampling. The Boil Water Notice will be rescinded when the results from the Austin's drinking water testing is in full compliance with national and state drinking water standards with no violations of listed contaminants. These tests are taken from various locations throughout the system that are approved by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Resources
For questions or concerns, please contact 3-1-1.
