What is the Austin water boil notice and when will it end?
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.
What is the Austin water boil notice?
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.
When will it end?
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.”
What needs to happen for the water boil notice to end?
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.
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What caused the Austin water boil 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.”
Where can Austin residents get safe water until the boil notice ends?
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:
- Travis County Expo Center at 7311 Decker Lane
- Austin Water Glen Bell Service Center at 3907 South Industrial Drive
- Austin Water North Service Center at 901 W Koenig Lane
- Kelly Reeves Athletic Stadium at 10211 West Parmer Lane
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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