Running water will likely be restored in Houston by the end of Thursday, city officials announced on Wednesday, hours after issuing a boiling water warning to the city’s main distribution system amid falling pressure levels from water.
Residents are expected to start receiving stronger water pressure throughout the day on Wednesday, probably increasing enough to flush, said Houston public works director Carol Haddock.
The city’s water system is expected to be fully operational by the end of Thursday, although the boil warning is likely to extend longer.
The notice encourages residents to use boiled or bottled water for drinking, cooking and hygiene purposes until the notice is withdrawn. As the arctic climate descended on Texas and power outages affected more than a million residents, the city’s water pressure dropped below the minimum required by the Texas Environmental Quality Commission of 20 pounds per square inch, triggering the mandatory warning , according to Houston Public Works.
The pressure drop resulted from a combination of broken pipes across the city and equipment failures at water distribution facilities during the freezing weather, Haddock said.
Mayor Sylvester Turner, who said a pipe burst in his own home, asked residents not to drop their taps, even when Houston residents reported that the pipes froze around the city. City officials advised residents to avoid using sprinklers, washing machines, dishwashers or other non-essential items.
Meanwhile, only 42% of homes in the Houston area have electricity, according to CenterPoint Energy, as temperatures hover around zero and another ice storm moves in the region. Residents without electricity will not be able to boil the water and must use bottled water. Haddock advised Houstonians to boil extra water if the power returns.
After the water pressure returns to normal, the state requires a 24-hour observation period on water samples before the boiling water warning can be canceled.
Almost all parts of Harris County were suffering from low water pressure or had no water on Wednesday morning as water utilities struggled to operate in the midst of a statewide energy crisis, county officials said .
“This is not going to improve until more energy is restored,” county officials said in a statement.
The announcement came after a boiling water warning issued in Galveston, where the water supply was affected by bursting pipes and water line breaks.
In the boil edict, residents should only use bottled or boiled water to drink, cook, brush their teeth and clean, as instructed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Do not use water from any appliance, including water from the refrigerator or ice made in the freezer. Be careful not to swallow water when bathing or showering.
Mayor Sylvester Turner advised supermarkets to store water.
“We are doing everything we can to redirect water to our hospitals,” said Turner, adding that authorities are “asking people across the city to conserve their water.”
Other local jurisdictions that have issued boiling water notices include La Porte, League City, Nassau Bay, Pearland, various Quail Valley utility districts, Harris County WCID – Fondren Road, Fort Bend County WCID # 2 Stafford, Fulshear, Harris County MUD # 122 , Katy and Greatwood-Sugarland, according to Fort Bend County officials.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.