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Emergency management officials in Travis County Tuesday told residents in Austin that they had to boil their tap water for several days, and urged them to reduce their consumption. of water as the city could face a shortage.
At a meeting with county commissioners, the chief emergency management coordinator, Eric Carter, said it would take 10 to 14 days at Austin Water to stabilize the three treatment plants and re-establish production at pre-flood levels last week.
But Austin Water's director, Greg Meszaros shared a more conservative estimatethat "based on current information, we do not expect our water problems to last more than a few days". But he added that consumer demands and weather conditions could extend the city's entire mandate to boil any water meant for drinking, cooking or any kind of ingestion.
"We do not necessarily face a shortage of water, we find ourselves in a situation where we have to take a step further to make sure our water is drinkable for us," Meszaros said, according to the radio station KUT, member of the NPR.
Local forecasts indicate a high probability of rain on Wednesday – a factor that could further overwhelm the city's water infrastructure.
In the meantime, officials urge the public to reduce their personal water consumption by 15 to 20%. "Immediate measures are needed to avoid running out of water," the electricity company said in a statement, saying the water levels were "at minimum levels".
The utility has struggled to treat floodwaters since last week's historic flood in central Texas. The silt, mud and debris in the city's water supply lakes have reduced the water treatment capacity of the system.
Carter told the Travis County Court of Trustees that "Travis Lake and Austin Lake have seen silt levels five times higher than those of the Austin Water Distribution Company," reported KUT.
Austin Water claims that local water treatment plants can currently produce about 105 million gallons of water a day. The current use of customers is about 120 million gallons a day.
KUT's Mose Buchele described the state of the water in the lakes and reservoirs of the city for NPR is here and now like looking like "chocolate milk".
Buchele explained that the utility company was struggling to filter the thick water and "dark brown" to a level that would be a good standard for drinking. "
"It takes a lot more time" than treating the quality of water normally supplied to the city, he said.
Until further notice, the city banned any use of water outdoors. Customers can not:
- Use water to irrigate or test irrigation equipment
- Wash vehicles, including in commercial car wash stations
- Wash the pavement or other surfaces
- Add water in a pool or spa
- Proceed with the watering of the foundations, or
- Use a fountain or an ornamental pond, other than the aeration necessary for aquatic life
The restaurants and cafes are also very small. According to Buchele, the restaurants are no longer serving ice and many of the city's cafes have been completely closed "because most of them do not boil the amount of water they would need to provide." the volume that they usually serve, "reports Buchele.
As Matt Largey told NPR on Monday, "The Austin Independent School District encourages students to bring bottles of water." In an email sent Monday morning, the school district also said that all principals cafeteria followed the instructions for boiling water and ensuring safety.This includes eliminating all salad bars for the time being ".
The boiling water advisory, coupled with its uncertain longevity, set off Monday a frantic race to bottled water throughout the city. But as the Texas Statesman San Antonio's reported water shipments helped stabilize the situation.
However, Sarah Eckhardt, Travis County Judge, hoped to stop another rush by advising those who can to boil water rather than buying bottled water. according to Statesman reporter Taylor Goldenstein, Eckhardt said this store-bought water should be reserved for vulnerable populations, including children, schools and the elderly.
"We are a community of sharing, not hoarding," she said.
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