AUSTIN, Texas — Austin and several other cities in Central Texas are under a boil water notice as the area deals with the effects of the deadly Texas winter storm.
Some still do not have the power needed to boil water and many don't have water to boil. If you don't have power, you can treat your water by boiling on camp stoves, fish fryers or grills. You can also disinfect your water by putting a 1/8 teaspoon of household bleach per gallon of water, shake or mix it very well and let it sit for 30 minutes.
If you don't have the resources to treat your water, there are some resources available to acquire drinking water.
The City is focused on pickup sites that are safe for people to get to and require minimal travel. They will be open "sun-up to sun-down" and will provide one case of water per car.
The City is also working with churches and nonprofits to get water to homeless, seniors and other vulnerable residents. The Austin Fire Department is helping with bulk deliveries to hospitals and dialysis centers and Capital Metro is helping delivery water to seniors and other vulnerable people.
Those who can boil water at home or purchase bottled water elsewhere are encouraged to do so, so the City can distribute to those most in need.
The City distributed the water in three phases:
- Friday, Feb. 19: Critical facilities like shelters, warming centers and medical facilities
- Saturday, Feb. 20: Vulnerable populations such as seniors, home-bound residents and those with medical or other special needs
- Sunday, Feb. 21: General public
City Councilmember Greg Casar said the City is also in need of volunteers to distribute water to apartment complexes, homes and shelters across the city. If you have a car and especially if you have a truck or big vehicle, you're encouraged to sign up here.
If you're in need, we're rounding up places around Central Texas where you can get drinking water:
Austin water for emergency drinking
All sites will provide water on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. The sites are designated for residents without the ability to purchase or boil water. Each pickup will include one case of water.
Officials ask that if you are driving a vehicle, have your trunk open or have your doors unlocked so volunteers can place water in your vehicle. If you are on foot, bring a cart or carrier large enough to carry one case of water.
Distribution runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, March 1 at the following site:
- ACC Northridge Campus. 11928 Stonehollow Drive.
- This is not a bottled water distribution. Residents need to bring their own containers to fill water.
Austin-area showers and laundry facilities
Shower and laundry facilities have been established at four locations in the community. If you are without water, and need a place to take a shower or wash clothes, please go here to sign up for a time to access those resources.
Cedar Park City Hall
At City Hall buildings 3 and 4, located at 450 Cypress Creek Road, you can fill up your own jugs or containers from Friday through Sunday.
The limit is 20 gallons per family. The water filling centers are open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Williamson County
Cedar Park
Cedar Park City Hall
- Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Address: 450 Cypress Creek Road
Florence
Florence City Hall
- Residents must bring their own containers and there is a limit of 20 gallons plus one case of bottled water per household. The water provided at this station does not need to be boiled.
- Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Address: 106 S. Patterson Ave.
Santa Rose Catholic Church - Andice
- Hours: noon to 4 p.m. or while supplies last. Must bring your own container.
- Address: 6571 FM 970
Georgetown
Georgetown Community Center
- Residents must bring their own containers and there is a limit of 20 gallons per household. The water provided at this station does not need to be boiled.
- Hours: noon to 5 p.m.
- Address: 445 E. Morrow Street
Hutto
Jonah Special Water Utility
- Hours: noon to 4 p.m. or while supplies last. Must bring your own container.
- Address: 4050 FM 1660
Leander
One water filling station (must boil before consumption) is open until 5 p.m. Monday at Pleasant Hill Elementary, 1800 Horizon Park. Enter from Crystal Falls Pkwy. You must bring a container.
A bottled water distribution site has also been opened at Leander High School. Vehicles should enter from Lakeline Blvd just south of Osage Dr. The city is providing one case per vehicle. As of Monday, the site only had enough to serve 750 vehicles.
Liberty Hill
Liberty Hill water tower parking lot
- Distributing potable, non-potable, water bottles, canned water and boxed water.
- Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. or while supplies last
- Address: 822 Loop 332
Taylor
The City of Taylor will have two drinking water distribution centers open on Sunday.
Taylor is hosting three distribution sites for drinking water and non-potable water on, Saturday, Feb. 20:
- The Drinking Water Distribution Center at Fire Station #1, 200 Washburn, will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. or until supplies are depleted. Residents will be able to pick up a bag with six bottles of drinking water per vehicle.
- The Texas Beer Company will be distributing bulk drinking water provided by the City at the brewery on 1331 West Second Street from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or until supplies run out. Residents must bring their own containers and can fill up to 20 gallons per vehicle.
Texas Beer Company will also host a canning event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and a drive-thru event from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Feb. 22.
Thrall
Thrall City Hall
- Hours: noon to 2 p.m. or while supplies last
- Address: 104 Main Street
Weir
- Canned water available from noon to 4 p.m. or until supplies run out.
- Address: Weir Fire/ESD 6 Station at 450 FM 1105
Hays County
A water filling station will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Jack C. Hays High School at 4800 Jack C. Hays trail. Residents must bring their own container and there is a limit of five gallons per person.
A drinking water filling station is also open in the Hays Communities YMCA's parking lot from noon to 4 p.m. That facility is located at 465 Buda Sportsplex Drive in Buda.
Bastrop County
Bastrop County says it has received the first truck of bottled water from the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) for distribution to residents. The county has also purchased 24 pallets of water from Lowe's for distribution and is expecting five additional trucks from TDEM to arrive on Sunday.
There will be four points of bottled water distribution, one for each precinct. When you arrive, remain in your vehicle and the water will be brought to you. The sites are:
Precinct 1
- Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. or until supplies are depleted or demand is met
- Address: The maintenance barn at 601 Cool Water Drive in Bastrop
Precinct 2
- Hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. or until supplies are depleted or demand is met (daily)
- Address: The recreation center at 106 Gazley Street in Smithville
Precinct 3
- Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or until supplies are depleted or demand is met
- Address: 192 Fohn Road in Red Rock and at the Cedar Creek Annex at 5786 FM 535 in Cedar Creek
Precinct 4
- Water will be distributed at the Elgin Recreation Center at 361 N. Highway 95 starting at noon Sunday until supplies are depleted. Starting Monday, distribution will be made from the Precinct 4 County Barn at 708 Bull Run in Elgin.
Additionally, non-potable water is being distributed at two locations. Residents need to bring their own containers and there is a five gallon limit per person. Water acquired from these locations must be boiled before consumption. The locations are:
Aqua Water Supply
- Hours: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
- Address: 386 Highway 304
ESD 1 Fire Station
- Hoses are located on the north side of the building for filling your containers.
- Address: 214 Fohn Road in Red Rock
Austin-area restaurants/ breweries/grocers
The following breweries, restaurants and grocers will be offering water on Sunday, Feb. 21, to people who bring their own containers:
- Hours: noon to 6 p.m. Taproom is also open.
- Address: 2340 W. Braker Lane
- Hours: noon to 7 p.m. Taproom will also be open.
- Address: 2307 Kramer Lane
- Hours: noon to 7 p.m. Beer also available.
- Address: 4602 Weletka Drive
- Hours: Vary based on location. Available through Feb. 23.
- Address: 10515 N. MoPac Expressway, Building L; 4615 North Lamar Blvd.; 1335 E. Whitestone Blvd., Building G-17 in Cedar Park; 1301 W. University Ave. in Georgetown
- Hours: Beer garden open noon to 10 p.m., water available from noon to 5 p.m. Spicy Boys will also be on-site with a limited menu until they run out.
- Address: 440 E. St. Elmo Road
At the following locations on Sunday, residents can pick up one 12-pack of 16-ounce cans of water per person:
- Hours: 10 a.m. until gone
- Address: 1316 S. Congress Ave.
- Hours: 10 a.m. until gone
- Address: 1000 E. 41st Street
- Hours: 3 p.m. until gone
- Address: 1100 E. 5th Street
SafeHorns, in partnership with Richard's Rainwater, will also be hosting a water distribution for students starting at 12:30 p.m. Sunday at the UT Co-Op Food Truck Courtyard. Free water will be available while supplies last.
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