Two days after one of the city’s water filtration plants lost electricity, Houston lifted its boil water advisory amid worries that toxins might still be present in the city’s primary water supply. While the notice was still in effect, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality conducted water quality testing and found that tap water complies with legal requirements, the city of Houston stated in a news release.
According to the city, Houston Water has implemented the necessary remedial measures to improve the water’s quality before it is used for human consumption or as drinking water.
Customers of Houston Water are advised to “flush” their home water systems before using it normally by turning on cold faucets for at least a minute and making and throwing away several batches of ice from their automatic ice makers in order to start the regeneration cycle of their water treatment softeners.
Following a power outage at one of the city’s purification plants, millions of residents were advised to boil their drinking water, and all of Houston’s public schools remained closed for a second day on Tuesday.
When the outage caused water pressure at the East Water Purification Plant, which feeds into the city’s main water system and serves about 2.2 million customers, to fall below regulators’ required minimum of 20 PSI, Houston officials formally issued a boil water notice on Sunday. Bacteria and other hazardous germs have a higher chance of getting into drinking water sources when there is less water pressure at the purification facility.
Although the city’s testing procedures mean the boil water notice will remain in place until at least Tuesday, Mayor Sylvester Turner stated on Monday that the water was probably safe to use again.
Shortly after the notice was published on Sunday evening, the Houston Independent School District announced building closures and stated on Twitter that it would keep an eye on the situation. The district announced Monday afternoon that Tuesday’s classes would be cancelled.
“The logistical difficulties brought on by the notice have led to this choice. Due to these difficulties, the district is unable to feed its students and guarantee that both students and staff have access to safe water “The district tweeted something.
Residents were informed of a pressure reduction at the purification plant in a news release from the city on Sunday. Everyone residing in the impacted area was advised against drinking tap water without first bringing it to a “vigorous rolling boil” and letting it boil for an additional two minutes. Before using the water to brush their teeth, wash their hands, or wash their faces, people should follow this procedure, the city advised, noting that those with compromised immune systems are especially vulnerable to harmful bacteria that may be present in the water supply.
The boil water notice advised that water for drinking, cooking, and ice manufacturing should be boiled and chilled before being used for drinking water or human consumption in order to ensure the elimination of all hazardous bacteria and other germs. Instead of boiling water, people can buy bottled water or get water from another appropriate source for drinking or human use.
A boil water notice must be in place until the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has finished repeat testing on water samples and determined they are not contaminated, according to regulatory requirements, Mayor Turner stated late on Sunday night. However, city officials believed the water was safe to use.
“Although we think the water is safe, we are required by law to issue a boil water notice when the pressure dips below 20 psi. Tonight, the City will submit its proposal for TCEQ’s approval “tweets from the mayor. “Water samples will then be taken, and hopefully the TCEQ will give us the all-clear. After that, the City must wait 24 hours before the boil-water advisory is lifted. The earliest would be Tuesday morning or extremely early tomorrow night.”
“Although we think the water is safe, we are required by law to issue a boil water notice when the pressure dips below 20 psi. Tonight, the City will submit its proposal for TCEQ’s approval “tweets from the mayor. “Water samples will then be taken, and hopefully the TCEQ will give us the all-clear. After that, the City must wait 24 hours before the boil-water advisory is lifted. The earliest would be Tuesday morning or extremely early tomorrow night.”
