More than 4.4 million customers are without power in Texas.
City officials in Abilene, Texas, announced on Monday night that all water services in the city were shut down due to the historic winter storm and cold.
City water services were shut down at 7 pm local time “as a result of power cuts at both power sources in all three [the] water treatment plants, “the city said in a statement.
Authorities said they do not know when the power and water will be switched on.
When the water is restored, the city said residents would be forced to boil the water before using it.
Abilene, which is located about three hours west of Dallas, has a population of more than 123,000 people, according to the US Census Bureau.
Hours before the water shutdown, authorities begged residents to use only “essential” water because the city’s supply was dangerously low.
“Your efforts to conserve water will help the city to ensure continued water service. Failure to reduce use will result in loss of water service,” the city said in a statement on Monday. “Please give up baths, showers and other non-vital uses. Use water only for drinking and cooking.”
Abilene and much of Texas are still without power, as the state is dealing with record cold.
“If you are experiencing a power outage, you will likely be without power for a long period of time as long as the state of emergency continues,” AEP Texas, a utility company, said in a statement on Monday.
As of 10 pm Eastern time, more than 4.4 million customers were without power in Texas.