HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — A Boil Water Notice that had been in effect for five different municipal utility districts in northwest Harris County has now been lifted.
The notice had been in effect because of a drop in water pressure when a valve was being replaced, officials say.
Impacted water systems were along Highway 290 from Mason Road to the Grand Parkway.
"Friday evening we were replacing a valve, which is a very standard activity and after the valve replacement we have to flush the lines. It's part of the requirements of the water distribution system," said Inframark President Todd Burrer.
"In the process of flushing the lines, there was a lot of usage because of the heat we're experiencing, and we had a situation where the pressure dropped below a certain amount."
Residents in the area like Ashley Abernathy tell KHOU 11 News she and her neighbors have been dealing with low water pressure or no water at all but didn’t know why.
“I noticed it last night like around 9:30 p.m. and that's when I questioned it and that's what I was in. And I was like, did I pay the bill? Of course, everything was up to date," said Abernathy.
Their water is back on, and the water pressure is normal, but residents started to notice something else before learning about the boil water notice.
“I turned on my faucet and it looked like the water was silver,” said Annie Bronikowski.
While the boil water notice was issued Sunday morning, neighbors said they never received an email or text about it.
“I've lived here about three years and we've never had anything like this happen. I was just diagnosed with the autoimmune disorder,” said Bronikowski.
Residents said they wish they knew sooner.
“My husband has already probably drunk a half a gallon of water himself. So, okay, should I be worried, or should I not be worried?” said Abernathy.
Inframarks President told KHOU 11 News the work that was being done normally doesn’t have any incidents.
“This was just a nexus of a bad situation, of a high usage in a water repair that happened where we had to flush the lines,” said Burrer.
Burrer said it’s not up to them on how to notify residents instead it’s up to the MUDs
“They provide us the guidance on what to do in the state of Texas. They have rules and requirements on how you can communicate with people, and they have very specific ways to communicate. And one of the ways to communicate is through press releases,” said Burrer.
The following Harris County MUDs were impacted:
- Harris County MUD 322
- Harris County MUD 354
- Harris County MUD 358
- Harris County MUD 396
- Harris County MUD 397
What to do during a Boil Water Notice
Specifics of a boil water advisory might be given by different communities, but below are standard recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- 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.