HAYS COUNTY, Texas — Editor's note: An earlier version of this story stated that the affected neighborhood received water from GBRA; however, that information – reported by the Hays County WCID – was inaccurate. This story has been updated to reflect the correct information.
A boil water notice has been lifted for a Hays County neighborhood.
The Hays County Water Control and Improvement District No. 1 and No. 2 (WCID) initially issued the notice on Monday after a mechanical failure at a West Travis County Public Utility Agency (WTCPUA) water plant.
“Now that there's not good water, I guess I have to worry about not just myself. And I have to worry about her, too," Hayley Powers, a Belterra resident who was worried about herself and her dog, told KVUE on Tuesday.
Powers said her complex didn’t notify her until 20 minutes after she saw a social media post – well after the notice had already been issued.
“I'm like, 'OK, well, what happened at 7 a.m. this morning when I filled up my giant water bottle?' You know what I mean?" Powers said.
Powers said this week's freeze and the lack of clean water were a dark reminder of the winters she’s seen here in Texas.
“During Snowpocalypse 2021, we actually ran out of water ... We couldn't even boil. We didn't have any water to boil. We had to go get pool water to even flush our toilet," Powers said.
On Wednesday, the WCID said it system has taken the necessary corrective actions to restore adequate water pressure, disinfectant levels and/or bacteriological quality and has provided the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) with testing results. Those results indicate that the water no longer requires boiling as of Wednesday.
Anyone with any further questions can contact the WCID's Regulatory Compliance Department at 281-367-5511. Customers who wish to reach TCEQ can call 512-239-4691.
What to do during a boil water notice
Specifics of a boil water advisory might be given by different communities, but below are verbatim standard recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control:
- Use bottled or boiled water for drinking, preparing and cooking, brushing teeth and making ice. This includes water for pets
- If bottled water is not available, bring water to a full rolling boil for 1 minute, then allow it to cool before use
- Boil tap water even if it is filtered
- Do not use water from any appliance connected to your water line, such as ice and water from a refrigerator
- Breastfeeding is the best infant feeding option. If you formula feed your child, provide ready-to-use formula, if available