Due to a lack of heat and water pressure, Austin’s St. David’s Hospital is sending current patients to other area hospitals.
St. David’s Officials report they’ve lost water pressure which is needed for the buildings boiler system. Other Austin area hospitals add they too are having trouble with their water supply.
Austin Water’s Greg Mezarros says as the city deals with pipes bursting and the big freeze in general, demand has spiked beyond their capabilities. “In the last roughly 24 hours, we’ve seen peak pumping and demand be 2.5X greater than our ability to produce water.”
Mezarros says that’s been rapidly draining the local water system and reservoirs.
City leaders are calling on residents who have water and or power to conserve as possible, to ease the burden on the State and city power grid as well as local water systems.
Officals are asking residents to stop letting their faucets drip as a way to preserve water supplies and to not use dishwashers or washing machines in the meantime.
