AUSTIN — After this week's boil water notice was issued, large crowds have descended on stores to be sure they have drinking water. While the crowds come to the stores, some are struggling to keep the shelves full.
The city said they are working with multiple agencies and looking at several contracts with the state to bring clean drinking water to the city during this time. Some of those resources are reserved for emergencies, the city stated.
Multiple stores and organizations are working to bring water to the citizens of Austin, while the boil water notice is in place.
The City of Austin has seven free water distribution sites for people with special needs, who are unable to boil water, and for people who need bottled water for work. This does not include schools, which are providing water at their campuses for students. Officials said supplies are limited to one gallon of water per person and up to four gallons of water for a family of four. You can find the pickup area at the driveway of the distribution sites.
The following locations will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.
- Walnut Creek Park (12138 N Lamar Blvd)
- City of Austin Warehouse, formerly Home Depot (7211 N IH 35 SVRD NB)
- Roy G. Guerrero Park (400 Grove Blvd)
- Onion Creek Soccer Complex (5600 E William Cannon Dr)
- Dick Nichols Park (8011 Beckett Rd)
- Kelly Reeves Athletics Complex (10211 W. Parmer Lane) -- Here, each vehicle is able to take four cases.
- Circuit of the Americas (9201 Circuit of the Americas Blvd)
Note: To receive bottled water, you may be asked to provide your ZIP code and the total number of people in your household.
Travis County has also opened up a water distribution site at Circuit of the Americas. Bottled water will be available for underserved communities, people with special needs and those who are unable to boil water. The site is open in Parking Lot A from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
“Our priority at Travis County is the safety of our residents. We want to make sure we are doing everything we can to help the community as we all navigate this emergency,” said Hector Nieto, Public Information Officer for the Travis County Commissioners Court. “Travis County would like to thank Circuit of the Americas for their assistance and making their facility available.”\
The Texas Children's Specialty Care is providing cases of water to Austin's on community Oct. 26 from 10 a.m to 4 p.m. This event will be open and free to the public. Gallons can be picked up on the third floor of the building.
San Antonio Water System said they're bringing a 5,000-gallon water tanker to Austin while the city deals with a boil water notice. San Antonio Water said the tanker will come and go as needed, and they would update the status of the tanker on their social media page, here.
Richard's Rainwater, a Dripping Springs bottled rainwater company, said their business is not impacted by the boil water notice. Their company is donating as much real rainwater to the city of Austin as needed. They're asking schools, non-profits and shelters in need to send an email to this address for help.
Randalls grocery store said Monday that their shelves were restocked at Austin-area Randalls. The grocery store chain said they would deliver truckloads of water Tuesday to the Central Texas Food Bank, Austin Salvation Army and Austin Red Cross.
H-E-B said they worked overnight Monday to start sending fleets of trucks full of water to the Austin-area. The grocery store chain said they will continue to send trailers of water until it is no longer needed.
Additionally, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission is supplying millions of bottles of water to local schools and other public institutions. Those recipients include more than 120 campuses in Austin ISD, 18 additional school districts in the area, as well as certain hospitals and correctional facilities.
“Helping Texans in need is at the heart of what we do as an agency,” Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Courtney Phillips said. “Our team members are dedicated to serving our communities in crisis and we will do whatever is necessary to assist.”
Be sure to follow this story as it will be updated with new information over time as more organizations and businesses look to help areas impacted by the boil water notice.