Resilience Natural Disasters

First power, now water: Texans told to boil, conserve water as state warns of shortages

Story at a glance

  • Texas cities ranging from Houston to Austin are cut off from a safe water source.
  • Frozen and burst pipes, along with treatment plant outages, are being blamed as culprits.

While about half a million Texans continue to fight off cold temperatures from Winter Storm Uri without power, many homes are experiencing water supply issues as levels are dangerously low and may be unsafe to drink. 

Multiple health agencies across Texas are issuing warnings regarding widespread low water levels and asking Texans to boil tap water to ensure safe drinking quality. 

This, of course, is already complicated with many homes still suffering from power outages.

 

 

Local outlets report that cities in North Texas are under a boil alert, meaning tap water is not potable, or safe to drink, unless boiled first. 

The Texas Tribune reports that about 590 public water systems in 141 Texas counties reported interruptions in service, which affects about 12 million customers, as of late Wednesday. 

During a press conference Wednesday, Toby Baker, executive director of Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, noted that the disruptions in water supply are due to power outages, frozen and burst water lines, and excessive faucets dripping. Many residents dripped water from their faucets to prevent frozen pipes from bursting. 

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner (D) tweeted an advisory asking city residents to conserve water.

 

 

About three hours east, Austin’s city water company wrote on Twitter that its water treatment plants are operating stably, but that it is struggling to keep up with its customer’s supply needs. The citywide boil alert remains in effect.

 


READ MORE ABOUT THE TEXAS ENERGY CRISIS

‘I GOT NO DEFENSE’ TED CRUZ ADMITS IN CONTROVERSY OVER ENERGY POLICIES IN CALIFORNIA AND TEXAS

AOC AND TEXAS GOV. ABBOTT FIRE AT EACH OTHER OVER DEADLY WINTER STORM, GREEN NEW DEAL

BILL GATES SLAMS TEXAS GOVERNOR’S EXPLANATION FOR CATASTROPHIC POWER OUTAGES 

TEXAS DEEP FREEZE CAUSES ELECTRICITY PRICES TO SPIKE 10,000 PERCENT

EMERGENCY EVACUATIONS NOW TAKING PLACE IN TEXAS HOSPITALS BECAUSE OF FREEZING TEMPERATURES

 


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