Subject: Time to Audit Austin Water: Monday Update

Dear Neighbors,



I share your frustration about the most recent boil water notice and the frequency of these events. Our community expects and deserves better from our utilities. Today, I called for an external audit of Austin Water to examine the pattern of water quality challenges Austin has seen in recent years and to identify appropriate protocol, operational, investment and other changes and actions. My colleagues, Council Members Tovo, Fuentes, Ellis, Pool, and Kelly, are already joining me as co-sponsors and the resolution will be on the Feb.17th Council agenda. While I appreciate the efforts of City staff to restore our water and distribute supplies to those in need, we must take steps to prevent this from happening again.


In a crisis I believe it is important to operate with openness and transparency. That is why I have also emphasized to the City Manager that our community needs more information about the decision making process and steps taken between the detection of the turbidity problem and the issuance of the precautionary boil water notice hours later. We also need to better understand what the health risks might be in consuming tap water before the boil water notice was issued.


I am still awaiting further details regarding what transpired on Saturday and why, but I can share the following regarding the health risks. The Ullrich Water Treatment Plant was taken offline immediately, and water production was increased at our other two plants to serve the community. While the plant was offline, in coordination with TCEQ, AW evaluated the system’s condition and it was determined that a Boil Water Notice was required. This is a low-risk event since disinfection systems functioned properly throughout. However, out of an abundance of caution, we are asking customers to continue to boil water for 2 minutes before consuming until all testing has concluded and boil water notice has been lifted.


The City just issued the following press release regarding the restoration of normal water service. In summary, Austin Water estimates that the boil notice will be lifted tomorrow evening. Conservation measures are lifted effective immediately. Austin Water has completed Step 2 of 5 to lift the boil notice, meaning that all 3 water treatment plants are fully operational again. Step 3, which involves sampling and testing the water, is now underway. The final steps are a negative test result for contaminants (Step 4), and authorization from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to lift the boil notice (Step 5). Please see the full press release below for more details. 


I also want to add that as of this evening, February 7, staff have indicated that our school districts report that they have enough safe water for their staff, teachers, and students. The City will continue to support our school districts until the notice is lifted. 


Thank you for your patience. 


Regards, 

Alison Alter

Mayor Pro Tem

Council Member, District 10






For Immediate Release: February 7, 2022




City-Wide Boil Water Notice Remains in Effect, Water Conservation Requirements Lifted 



The city-wide boil water notice remains in effect; residents must continue to boil tap water.




AUSTIN - Austin Water completed Step 2 and has transitioned into Step 3 of the 5 Step process to lift the boil water notice. Completing Step 2 means that all three Austin Water (AW) water treatment plants are fully operational and producing normal volumes of water. Since the amount of available water in the treatment plant and distribution system is not an operational concern, AW is lifting emergency water conservation restrictions effective immediately.


Emergency Water Conservation Requirements Lifted 

The emergency water conservation restrictions, urging businesses and residents to reduce water use to basic needs, were put in place to help Austin Water operators bring the Ullrich Water Treatment Plant back online after an internal process issue. Operations staff have successfully brought the Ullrich Water Treatment Plant back online and it is now operating at normal levels. Emergency water conservation measures are no longer needed.


Step 3 Initiated - Boil Water Notice Remains In Effect 

Although water production has now reached normal and stable levels, Austin remains under a city-wide boil water notice. Additionally, as of 5:45 pm today, Monday, Feb. 7, Austin Water (AW) received approval from the state to begin the water sampling process – also known as Step 3 of the 5-step process.


“We understand and share our community’s frustration as we begin the sampling process and wait for testing results so that we can lift the boil water notice,” said City Manager Spencer Cronk. “We are doing everything we can to expedite the process while ensuring the health and safety of our residents,” he concluded.


AW is deploying staff across the community to begin collecting water samples from approximately 45 pre-determined residential and commercial collection sites. Samples will then be tested over a 24-hour time period. Test results are immediately shared with Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) who then determines if the boil water notice can be lifted.


“We remain cautiously optimistic that, if the water samples pass regulatory requirements and the TCEQ approves our results, we will be able to lift the water boil notice late Tuesday evening,” said AW Director Greg Meszaros.


Retail Customers of Wholesale Districts and Utilities 

As a reminder, while residential and commercial customers are no longer required to reduce water consumption, Austin Water customers and the following retail customers of Austin Water Wholesale Districts and Utilities are still required to boil their tap water vigorously for two minutes before consuming:


  • Night Hawk 

  • Travis County WCID 10 

  • Creedmoor-Maha WSC 

  • Morningside 

  • Rivercrest 

  • San Leanna 

  • Marsha WSC 

  • Wells Branch MUD 

  • Northtown MUD 

  • Manor 

  • Rollingwood 

  • Shady Hollow MUD 

  • Sunset Valley 

  • High Valley 

  • Mid-Tex Utilities 

  • North Austin MUD 1 

  • Water Distribution Sites


Water distribution sites continue operating.  An additional water distribution site opened this evening at ACC Pinnacle, 7748 US-290, and will remain open until 8p.m. tonight.  The facility will reopen tomorrow, Tuesday, Feb. 8 at noon.  

For more information, including a complete list of all water distribution sites, customers can visit austintexas.gov/alerts.  

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    This is an online snapshot of a newsletter created by the owner of district10 (District 10, 301 W 2nd street, 78701 Austin) and sent via GetResponse on 2022-02-07. Report abuse