Finally! The City of Houston issued the following notice just before 11 this morning:
"HOUSTON - The City of Houston has lifted the boil water notice that has been in place since Thursday, February 27, 2020. Customers no longer need to boil water used for drinking, cooking and making ice. Water quality testing submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has confirmed that tap water meets all regulatory standards and is safe to drink.
The Office of Emergency Management suggests allowing water to run through the faucet for a few minutes on the first use before consuming.
On February 27th, TCEQ required Houston Water to issue a boil water notice for the City of Houston’s Main Water System (TX1010013), and inform customers, individuals, or employees that due to conditions which occurred recently in the public water system, the water from this public water system was required to be boiled prior to use for drinking water or human consumption purposes.
Houston Water has taken the necessary corrective actions to restore the quality of the water distributed by this public water system used for drinking water or human consumption purposes and has provided TCEQ with laboratory test results that indicate that the water no longer requires boiling prior to use as of Saturday, February 29, 2020.
“I appreciate everyone’s patience over the past couple of days as Houston Water crews worked to isolate the break and restore water pressure to the city of Houston. I also thank the community for conserving water usage and following the boil water notice,” Mayor Sylvester Turner said. “The repairs on the water line will continue through the weekend and we expect the line to be back in service no later than Tuesday. Once the city returns to regular operations, Houston Water staff will analyze the event and data to take the necessary steps to ensure the resiliency of our systems”
NEXT STEPS
Customer should flush their water system by running cold-water faucets for at least one minute, cleaning automatic ice makers by making and discarding several batches of ice, and running water softeners through a regeneration cycle.
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).
If customers have questions concerning this matter, they may contact 311 or 713.837.0311.
BACKGROUND
A City of Houston contractor was trying to repair a water leak on a water line on Clinton Drive at 610 in East Houston, when the 96-inch water line burst. A boil water notice was issued for the City of Houston’s Main Water System because the water pressure dropped below TCEQ’s required limit of 20 PSI during the event.
WATER QUALITY TESTING
Houston Water worked with TCEQ to establish corrective actions necessary to lift the boil water notice. The actions included analyzing 44 water samples from throughout the City of Houston as required by TCEQ. Test results, reviewed by TCEQ, indicated that water provided by Houston meets all regulatory standards and is safe for human consumption. On Saturday, February 29, 2020, TCEQ gave the City of Houston approval to lift the boil water notice. Water quality reports are available online at: bit.ly/houwaterquality
RESOURCES
Customers can visit: houstonemergency.org for the latest information and frequently asked questions, including guidance for food service establishments.
ABOUT HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS
Houston Public Works (HoustonPublicWorks.org) is the largest and most diverse public works organization in the country, responsible for creating a strong foundation for Houston to thrive. Houston Public Works is responsible for streets and drainage, production and distribution of water, collection, and treatment of wastewater, and permitting and regulation of public and private construction covering a 671-square mile service area. Houston Public Works is accredited by the American Public Works Association. Facebook & Twitter: @HouPublicWorks