Austin Water has lifted the boil water notice for all customers. The notice has been in place since Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021. Customers no longer need to boil water used for drinking, cooking and, making ice. Water quality testing submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has confirmed that tap water meets all regulatory standards and is safe for human consumption.

On February 17, the TCEQ required Austin Water, Public Water System ID#TX227001, to issue a Boil Water Notice to inform customers, individuals, or employees that due to conditions which occurred recently in the public water system, the water from this public water system was required to be boiled prior to use for drinking water or human consumption purposes.

The public water system has taken the necessary corrective actions to restore the quality of the water distributed by this public water system used for drinking water or human consumption purposes and has provided TCEQ with laboratory test results that indicate that the water no longer requires boiling prior to use as of February 23, 2021.

“Today we can report that Austin’s water system has been restored to normal operations and the boil water notice has been lifted for all our customers,” said Austin Water Director Greg Meszaros. “There is still a lot to do to repair water pipelines that were damaged by the freezing weather, but customers should only experience occasional impacts from that work. We are thankful for the community’s efforts to conserve water over this past week to help us restore our operations today.”

“Rescinding the boil water notice today is the result of round-the-clock efforts by Austin Water, as well as actions taken by our community to help their neighbors by using less water,” said City Manager Spencer Cronk. “This is a strong community that looks out for each other, and together we’ve achieved this important milestone in our recovery from last week’s freezing event.”

If customers have questions concerning this matter, visit www.austintexas.gov/page/boil-water-notice-and-faqsor follow @austinwater on social media.

Austin Water wholesale customers are conducting additional regulatory work in coordination with The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality before lifting boil water notice for their customers. Austin Water wholesale districts in this list include: Night Hawk, Travis County WCID 10, Windermere, Creedmoor-Maha WSC, Morningside, Rivercrest, San Leanna, Marsha WSC, Wells Branch MUD, Northtown MUD, Manor, Rollingwood, Sunset Valley Customers of Austin Water wholesale customers listed above should contact their provider directly for the latest updates.

At this time Shady Hollow MUD residents have not had the boil water notice lifted. Once this occurs take nots of FAQs below, from the CDC.

When I turn on the faucet, the water sputters. Why?

• You have air in your lines. Turn on your tap slowly and run the water until the sputtering stops.

The water is discolored. What should I do?

• Flush water pipes by running the water until it is clear.
• Do not wash clothes if the water is discolored. Wait until the water runs clear at the tap. Wash a load of dark clothes first.

Why does my water have a strong smell?

• The smell is probably chlorine. Often, water systems will increase chlorine levels to disinfect the pipes.

What should I do if my water pressure is low?

• Check the faucet screens for trapped particles. Remove the screens and clean out any particles. Put the screens back on the faucet.

Do I need to clean out my faucets?

• Yes. You should flush your faucets after the drinking water advisory.
• Turn on the main water valve.
• Turn on the cold water tap at all faucets and run the water until you feel a change in temperature (i.e. the water gets noticeably colder). This may take several minutes. Begin with the faucet that is highest up in your home or building and then open the other faucets one at a time moving from the highest floor to the lowest.

Do I need to clean appliances?

• Yes. Read the owner’s manual for directions to clean appliances such as water softeners and filter units.

My refrigerator has a water dispenser/ice maker. Do I need to clean them?

• Yes. Water dispensers and ice makers are connected to your water line. You need to flush and clean them.
• Follow the directions in the owner’s manual or:
• Change the filter cartridges.
• Throw out ice.
• Flush the water dispenser for 3 to 5 minutes.
• Run the ice maker for 1 hour.
• Throw out all the ice.
• Wash and sanitize bin areas.

Do I need to do something for the water softener?

• Yes. You may need to run through a regeneration cycle. Follow the directions in the owner’s manual.

I have a water treatment unit for the house. Does it need special care?

• Yes. Change the filter cartridges. Some units need disinfecting. Follow the directions in the unit’s owner’s manual.

Shady Hollow is still under a boil water notice.

Austin Water has partially lifted the boil water notice that has been in place since Wednesday, February 17, 2021. Customers in Austin Water’s Central Pressure Zone no longer need to boil water used for drinking, cooking and making ice. Water quality testing submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has confirmed that tap water in the Central Pressure Zone meets all regulatory standards and is safe for human consumption.

Overnight water storage figures have exceeded 118 million gallons in reserves, increasing system-wide water pressure and bringing Austin’s water system into healthy territory.

The majority of Austin residents should seen marked service improvements with only small pockets of Austin experiencing the lingering effects of the historic freezing event.

Do I need to continue to boil water when water pressure is restored?

Yes, the Boil Water Notice has not been lifted. Even if your water service has resumed and pressure has normalized, please continue to boil water for drinking and cooking until further notice. For more information, visit the boil water notice frequently asked questions.

Report a Leak or Issue

As reservoirs approach normal levels, it will improve our ability to find and repair distribution system breaks and leaks to address areas that remain out of service. Please continue to report leaks in your neighborhood using the issue report form below.

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The City of Austin is now producing more water than the city is consuming, allowing it to add water into its reservoirs, which is critical for system health.

Should water storage levels continue to rise, and with the help of its customers sustained efforts to conserve water use across the city, they could potentially restore water service city-wide through the end of this weekend.

Restored city-wide water service is contingent on how much water the city is able to produce. The less you use, the more water can be produced.

This map shows how the water system across Austin Water’s service area is currently performing. Each of the nine pressure zones that we maintain is shown as an area experiencing water outages (red) or low pressure (orange). The goal is for each zone to get to green again, where the system is operating normally, and the boil water notice can be lifted.

To achieve this, Austin Water is working to: Maintain water pressure in the Central Pressure Zone, which is the delivery hub for both the North and South Zones.

Continue filling water in the other pressure zones to turn those pressure zones orange.

As we work to repair and restore our water system, we need everyone to conserve water as much as possible. Using as little water as possible will allow us to put excess water produced into storage, which is critical for the health of the entire system. As Austin continues to thaw out, please report potential water main breaks here.

This graph shows where we are today in terms of our water production, customer demand or usage, and how much we have stored in reservoirs. For a healthy system, we need to maintain a minimum of 100 million gallons in storage. Today, we are at 32 million gallons and climbing.

Do your part to help us provide what is essential – water. Please conserve as much as possible so that we can get back to normal faster.

Shady Hollow MUD’s water is being provided by the City of Austin until March 26, 2021. Because of this, please reference the cities boil water notice below which was issued on February 17, 2021. Reference their website for FAQs and other useful information. Click here for the direct link.

Boil Water Notice- Feb. 17, 2021

As a result of the extreme weather conditions, a city-wide boil water notice has been issued due to power loss at The Ullrich Water Treatment Plant, Austin Water’s largest water treatment facility, and drops in water pressures below minimum standards.

We worked with Austin Energy to quickly assess our system and restore power and are in the process of bringing Ullrich Water Treatment Plant back online.

Any water recovered from plumbing systems should be boiled before drinking or cooking with it following the guidelines below.

For more information and updates, stay posted to local news, city social media, or stay tuned to this page.

To report a water or wastewater emergency, report a leak or main break, fill out the Leak Report Web Form at https://www.austintexas.gov/page/austin-water-issue-report-form

Virtual News Conference

Virtual Press Conference – February 18, 2021 – Virtual/Online News Conference details to follow.
Official Notice Language

A city-wide boil water notice has been issued due to power loss at The Ullrich Water Treatment Plant, Austin Water’s largest water treatment facility, and drops in water pressures below minimum standards. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has required Austin Water to notify all customers to boil their water prior to consumption (e.g., washing hands/face, brushing teeth, drinking, etc). Children, seniors, and persons with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to harmful bacteria, and all customers should follow these directions.

To ensure destruction of all harmful bacteria and other microbes, water for drinking, cooking, and ice making should be boiled and cooled prior to use for drinking water or human consumption purposes. The water should be brought to a vigorous rolling boil and then boiled for two minutes.

In lieu of boiling, individuals may purchase bottled water or obtain water from some other suitable source for drinking water or human consumption purposes.

When it is no longer necessary to boil the water, Austin Water will notify customers that the water is safe for drinking water or human consumption purposes.

Once the boil water notice is no longer in effect, Austin Water will issue a notice to customers that rescinds the boil water notice in a manner similar to this notice.

Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.

BOIL WATER NOTICE – Feb. 17, 2021

Austin Water is asking customers in southwest Austin and Lost Creek neighborhood to boil their water prior to using it for drinking or cooking, until further notice. The boil water notice is required because water pressure in portions of the water distribution system dropped below minimum standards.

Maps of the affected areas can be found below:

• Map 1 – Lost Creek Area
• Map 2 – South West Austin Neighborhoods

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Austin Water issue boil water notices?

As a precaution during line repair, Austin Water can request that customers boil their water or use bottled water until water sample lab test results become available.

What is a boil water notice?

A boil water notice is a public statement advising people to boil their tap water before using it, typically in response to an event that has (or could have) introduced contaminants into the water distribution system. Such events include a large water main break, widespread loss of system pressure, or results of routine sample testing in the system. Although waterborne diseases are extremely rare, they can be serious. The risk is higher for infants, the elderly and persons with immune deficiency disorders. Austin Water issues boil-water notices even if the possibility of contamination is remote to safeguard the health of the community.

What do I need to do to make sure my water is safe to drink and use?

You should boil tap water vigorously for at least two minutes prior to using it for drinking or cooking (the minute starts when the water begins to bubble). This includes water used for brushing teeth, making ice, washing raw foods, preparation of drinks and water for pets. Wait for the water to cool before using it or store it in the refrigerator in a clean container. Boiling removes harmful bacteria in the water that may cause illness. You should throw away ice made during the time the advisory or notice was issued, as freezing does not kill bacteria.

Is the water safe for washing dishes, laundry, and bathing?

The water is safe for washing dishes, but you should use hot, soapy water (you may add one tablespoon of bleach per gallon as a precaution) and rinse dishes in boiled water. There are no restrictions on doing laundry. The water is also safe for bathing during an advisory or notice; if the water is contaminated by a chemical that will cause harm on contact, Austin Water will issue a Do Not Use Notice, meaning the water should not be used for bathing.

How do I prepare food and baby formula?

Use boiled or bottled water only for drinking, cooking, making ice, washing fruits and vegetables, brushing teeth, making baby formula, bathing and cleaning.

Breast feed your baby or use ready-made formula. If you must use water to make formula, use bottled water. If you don’t have bottled water, use water that has been rapidly boiled for at least two (2) minutes.

What about my pets?

You should follow the same boiling water procedures for your pet as you would for yourself.

How long will the need to boil water continue?

Public notification will be given when a boil water notice or order is lifted. Typically the need to boil water lasts for 24 to 48 hours, but can be longer and may last for several days or more. How long will depend on the conditions that caused the need to boil, how quickly the conditions are corrected, and how long it takes for laboratory results to confirm it is safe to return to normal water use. Austin Water will provide updates on the progress of corrective actions and how long the event is expected to last.

What do I need to do when the notice has been lifted?

When it is no longer necessary to boil the water, the water system officials will notify you that the water is safe for consumption. Instructions to discontinue boiling will be issued in the same manner as this notice. After an advisory or notice has been lifted (if water contamination did occur), you should flush household pipes, ice makers, water fountains, etc. prior to using for drinking or cooking. Flushing simply means letting the water run to ensure that no contaminated water remains in your pipes. Follow the following guidelines for flushing:

• Run all cold water faucets in your home for one minute
• To flush automatic ice makers, make three batches of ice and discard
• Run water softeners through a regeneration cycle