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The city of Austin’s water utility told all residents early Monday to boil water before using until the city’s water treatment system is stabilized.
Austin Water customers, which include residents in Austin, Rollingwood and West Lake Hills, need to boil water before drinking it, cooking with it or using it for ice until further notice, city officials said. Travis County Water District 10 customers are also included in the city’s boil notice, General Manager Carla Glass said.
The boil notice comes after historic flooding in Central Texas last week, which has caused water supply lakes to be filled with silt. The high level of debris, silt and mud in the water requires extended filtration to treat it, which takes longer, city officials said. Such conditions make it harder for the city’s water plant to produce the volume of water needed to supply customers, officials said.
“To provide necessary water pressure for fire protection, plants must distribute water at treatment levels not typical of the utility’s high standards for consumption,” the city said.
So far, the water has not tested positive for bacterial infiltration of the system, city officials said.
Austin Water warned that inadequately treated water could contain bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can cause diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches or illness. Infants, young children, some of the elderly and people with severely compromised immune systems also would be at risk.
The city recommends that customers do the following:
Reduce water use as much as possible to ensure adequate supply for basic needs, fire protection, public health and safety.
Boil water intended for drinking. To ensure destruction of all harmful bacteria and other microbes, water for drinking, cooking and for making ice should be boiled and cooled. The water should be brought to a rolling boil for three minutes.
In lieu of boiling water, use bottled water.
Businesses should not use drinking fountains or soda fountains that rely on tap water.
Austin Water said the water is safe for washing dishes, but you should use hot, soapy water and rinse dishes in boiled water.
The water is safe for laundry and for bathing, officials said.
However, the utility said customers should only use boiled or bottled water for cooking, making ice, washing fruits and vegetables, and making baby formula.
Even if you have your own water filtration device in your kitchen, you should still boil your drinking water, Austin Water director Greg Meszaros said.
“Anyone who’s seen the water running through Lady Bird Lake can see how muddy it is,” said Austin Mayor Steve Adler. “The good thing is that we can continue with most of our daily routines – like showering, hand washing and laundry – but we all need to do our part to conserve where we can, and boil the tap water we consume.”
The Austin and Del Valle school district campuses remain open and on a regular schedule so far.
Austin schools will be closing off or covering drinking fountains and cafeteria managers will be following the boil instructions. Students are being encouraged to bring their own drinking water, juices and sport drinks from home but school officials said they will provide drinking water to any student in need.
Del Valle ISD said the district would be providing bottled water, too.
Travis County Water District 10 services the Eanes school district, which is also being affected by the boil order, Glass said. The Eanes school district said custodians would cover drinking fountains and bottled water would be delivered to its campuses.
Austin Community College officials said all campuses would remain open but water fountains on campuses and in buildings within the city limits will be taped off. ACC students and employees are being encouraged to bring bottled water to campus.
Local governments near Austin but outside of Austin Water’s service, including Pflugerville in Travis County, Cedar Park in Williamson County and Kyle in Hays County, said they have a separate water system and their water is safe to consume.
Austin Water said it would notify residents when the water is safe for consumption and when it is no longer necessary to boil the water.
For more information and frequently asked questions about boil water notices visit http://www.austintexas.gov/boilH2O.
This is a developing story; check back for updates.
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