| Dear neighbors,
I would like to update you on the current water situation. On Monday the city determined to issue a boil water notice as a precautionary measure. This morning you will have seen a switch in terminology to a “mandatory” boil water notice. That change was procedural and does not indicate any known additional risk. The reasons behind the switch are explained clearly in this morning’s press release available here and pasted below. To date, there have been NO positive tests for abnormal bacteria nor any reports of illness related to water ingestion.
Austin Water has stated that the duration of the boil water notice is in part reliant on the weather and consumption. Though we cannot control the weather, we do have control over our consumption. The less water Austinites use as our water systems replenish, the more quickly we could see the order lifted.
I know your usual coffee or tea fix can be hard to find this week and that routine activities may take a bit longer. I would like to thank you all for your responsiveness and resilience through this time. Your efforts to reduce your demand for water are working to create the space we need to restore full service to the city.
Yesterday afternoon, City Manager Cronk and Austin Water Director Greg Meszaros held a press conference to update the public on the status of Austin's water quality. Many frequently asked questions were answered during the press conference that address the current situation and decision making process to this point. Watch the Facebook video here. I share concerns raised by the media during the press conference and from constituents about the timeliness and mode of the notification process used by the City. As we move forward, I am committed to ensuring our planning efforts and infrastructure construction is adaptable and resilient to our changing climate.
With your cooperation, City staff are doing everything in their power to improve water quality and quantity. For more information, please visit http://www.austintexas.gov/boilH2O, call 3-1-1, or follow @austintexasgov on Twitter. Below, I also have included information on new water distribution centers across Austin.
Kind Regards,
Alison Alter Council Member, District 10
P.S. Here’s your cheat sheet on how to reduce consumption:
- Avoid all outdoor water use and minimize indoor use immediately
- Do not use water for irrigation or testing of irrigation equipment
- Do not wash vehicles, including at commercial car wash facilities
- Do not wash pavement or other surfaces
- Do not add water to a pool or spa
- Do not conduct foundation watering
- Do not operate an ornamental fountain or pond, other than aeration necessary to support aquatic life
- Remember to turn off any irrigation and pool systems that may usually run automatically
Water Distribution Centers:
Williamson County Emergency Management in coordination with the City of Austin and Travis County have made arrangements to provide extra water for those with special needs, who are unable to boil water, or need bottled water for work. A distribution site has been established at Kelly Reeves Athletics Complex, 10211 W Parmer Ln, Austin, Texas 78717.
The site is now open and will be open until 7 p.m. tonight. It will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day, excluding Friday, which will run from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. To receive bottled water, customers will be asked for their zip code and the total number of people in the household, where they will receive one gallon per person. Traffic will need to enter the stadium parking lot from the south-bound lane of Parmer and turn right into the stadium, where residents will be directed on where to pick up their water. Residents traveling in the north-bound lane on Parmer from SH 45 will not be able to turn left into the stadium at Cassandra Drive and will need to travel past the stadium to Avery Ranch Blvd. and turn around to travel south and turn right into entrance of the stadium. The Williamson County distribution site brings the total throughout the Austin area up to six. The others, which are also operating from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m, are located at: - Walnut Creek Park (12138 N Lamar Blvd)
- City of Austin Warehouse, formerly Home Depot (7211 N IH 35 SVRD NB)
- Roy G. Guerrero Park (400 Grove Blvd)
- Onion Creek Soccer Complex (5600 E William Cannon Dr)
- Dick Nichols Park (8011 Beckett Rd)
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Austin Water Press Release |
| | For immediate release: October 24, 2018
Contact: Ginny Guerrero, Public Information Office:
Cell: (512) 992-9346, geneva.guerrero@austintexas.gov
- - THIS NOTIFICATION IS REQUIRED BY STATE LAW - -
Mandatory Boil Water Notice Issued
Austin Water is now issuing an official Boil Water notice as required by The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
On the morning of Monday, October 22, as a precautionary measure, Austin Water issued a system-wide boil water notice -- alerting the public that all customers should boil water to prevent any potential health issues. At that point, Austin Water had not exceeded regulatory turbidity standards.
As of October 23, the turbidity standard has been exceeded and Austin Water is officially required by TCEQ regulatory requirements to issue a boil water notice.
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 failed to meet the minimum treatment technique requirements for turbidity on Tuesday, October 23, 2018. Specifically, the turbidity level of 5.0 Nephelometric Turbidity Units.
At this point, the TCEQ requires utilities to issue this public notice and to tell all customers that they should boil their water prior to consumption – the step Austin Water took as a precaution earlier.
So, 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 three minutes. (Be sure to let it cool before drinking it.) In lieu of boiling, bottled water may be used. When it is no longer necessary to boil the water, we will notify you.
Austin Water has taken the following corrective actions to prevent a recurrence of the violations:- All customers are asked to continue to reduce their water use to meet basic needs.
- Prohibited outdoor water use.
- Continue to optimize our treatment process for turbidity removal and ensure there are good disinfection levels.
If you want more information about the nature and significance of this violation, you may contact 3-1-1.
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). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.
The boil water notice will be lifted once Austin Water can stabilize the treatment systems. Austin Water will notify residents when the water is safe for consumption and it is no longer necessary to boil the water.
For more information, boil water notice updates, frequently asked questions about boil water notices and additional resources, visit http://www.austintexas.gov/boilH2O.
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