A WATER boil notice was issued in Austin, Texas, on the evening of Saturday, February 5, 2022.
An “internal process issue” at the Ullrich Water Treatment Plant is known to cause high turbidity in the water, according to local reports.
During a water boil notice, residents are encouraged to boil all water used for everyday consumption for both humans and pets.
This may include drinking water, water used to cook food, or for brushing one’s teeth.
All water for consumption should be brought to a rolling boil for at least two minutes before cooling down for use.
Residents are warned against getting tap water in their mouths during a boil notice, but are still able to wash their hands or bathe.
According to the CDC, water used for laundry machines is generally safe.
If using a dishwasher under a boil notice, the final rinse temperature should reach a minimum of 150 degrees Fahrenheit.
Austin officials announced the citywide water boil notice on the night of Saturday, February 5, 2022.
According to Austin Water representatives, the notice is estimated to last “a few days.”
Before the Austin water boil notice is lifted, officials have announced a five-step plan to complete:
First, the Ullrich Water Treatment Plant must come back online. According to local reports, the plant did come back around 9am on Sunday, February 6.
Next, Ullrich needs to operate at “normal production levels.” Following that, water sampling will begin.
When water sampling results show no water quality issues, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality authorities will lift the notice.
According to Austin Water Director Greg Meszaros, the notice was implemented following a “treatment process upset” at the Ullrich plant resulting in turbidity.
Turbidity is the measure of a water’s clarity – the cloudier the water, the higher the turbidity.
“This did not have to do with the winter storm,” Meszaros said.
“We were through that event and actually were feeling pretty celebratory that everything went well and then today we had this event.”
Starting on Sunday, February 6, four water distribution sites are available in Austin.
The two sites run by Austin Water will remain open for 24 hours, with residents required to bring their own water containers.
These locations include:
Those who travel to the Travis County and Kelly Reeves locations are not required to bring their own containers for water.
The Expo Center will operate from 10am until 6pm local time on Sunday, with the stadium open from noon until 5pm.
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