A citywide boil water order has been in effect for Austin since Saturday night. An issue at the Ullrich Water Treatment Plant early Saturday is being blamed on employee oversight. Officials with the water utility are still eyeing late Tuesday as the time the boil order may be lifted.
Austin Water is now on Step 3 of a 5-Step process to lift the boil water notice. Completing Step 2 means that all Austin Water treatment plants are fully operational and producing normal volumes of water. Since the amount of available water in the treatment plant and distribution system is not an operational concern, the utility has since lifted the emergency water conservation restrictions, which asked resident and businesses to scale back usage to the basic essentials.
As of 5:45 pm Monday, February 7, Austin Water received approval from the state to begin the water sampling process.
“We understand and share our community’s frustration as we begin the sampling process and wait for testing results so that we can lift the boil water notice,” said City Manager Spencer Cronk. “We are doing everything we can to expedite the process while ensuring the health and safety of our residents,” he concluded.
Samples will be tested over a 24-hour time period. Results are immediately shared with Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, who then determines if the boil water notice can be lifted.
“We remain cautiously optimistic that, if the water samples pass regulatory requirements and the TCEQ approves our results, we will be able to lift the water boil notice late Tuesday evening,” said AW Director Greg Meszaros
