AUSTIN, Texas — A boil water notice is ongoing after a massive water line break happened in North Austin on Friday.
The break was reported along West Wells Branch Parkway after officials said a contractor hit a 24-inch line during a bore. Gallons of water sprayed into the air near the Milan Apartments, which is located in front of the spot where the water main break happened.
The line was repaired and water was restored Saturday afternoon, which led to a boil water notice being issued for multiple neighborhoods. The full list can be viewed here.
In an update Monday afternoon, officials said one of the water samples used for bacteriological testing did not pass. The same thing happened on Tuesday. Another round of samples was collected and sent off for testing, but results can take up to 24 hours.
Officials now hope to lift the notice on Wednesday, June 12.
Neighborhoods and apartment complexes under the boil water notice include:
- Brookside neighborhood
- Milan Apartments
- MAA Wells Branch
- Affinity at Wells Branch
- Heritage Estate at Wells Branch
- Preserve at Wells Branch
- The Morgan
- Churchill Crossing
- The Arbors of Wells Branch
- The Park at Wells Branch
Streets and addresses under the boil water notice include:
- Gaylord Drive (1600-1753)
- Regents Walk
- Merchant Cove
- Owen-Tech Boulevard
- Korman Drive
- Thermal Drive (Northwest Elementary School, Churchill Crossing Only)
- Businesses on S. I-35 Frontage Road (14002-14900)
- Wells Branch Parkway (1600-2113) between Surrender Ave and I-35
"These things happen," Wells Branch MUD District Manager Shirley Ross told KVUE. "We try to avoid them, obviously, as much as possible. They don't happen very often, thank goodness. And we just want to make the repair as much as possible so that our customers are not inconvenienced for very long."
Crews responded to reports of the broken water line, which caused a big rig to drive through and fall into a washed-out area of the road.
The driver, named Ruben, explained how the road was swamped with water and how traffic had been backed up before he wound up in the hole.
"I was getting over somebody finally let me in, and I'm trying to get over to the left," Ruben said. "And this other idiot, he came to cut me off. He was going to hit me. So, I had to get back to the right. And all of a sudden, I go into the sinkhole, it opens and cratered as I was passing through."
Officials said the break occurred on a big line that's deep in the ground, which took several hours to control and shut off, which happened at roughly around 10 p.m. when repairs rapidly began.
No injuries were reported.
PHOTOS: Water line break in North Austin
Below is the full statement released by Travis County ESD No. 2 on Friday:
“Today [we] responded to reports of a broken water line at the 1720 block of W Wells Branch Parkway. Upon arrival crews made contact with a boring company who was onsite. Shortly after a 18-wheeler drove through and fell into a washed out area closeby. No injuries were reported and west bound Wells Branch is closed. Representatives on scene discovered that a Crossroads Utility Services water line was impacted."