South Texas Residents Still Under Boil Water Notice
In South Texas’ Webb County, a boil-water notice has been extended due to ongoing bacteria presence in the water supply. The notice was first issued on October 10 after traces of E. coli were found in water samples. Recent tests conducted late Wednesday revealed that the bacteria is still present in some city water-supply plants. The earliest possible lift date for the notice is Thursday evening, as reported by the Laredo Morning Times.
The exact cause of the contamination remains unclear, although city officials suspect that aging infrastructure may be the primary factor. Laredo Mayor Victor Treviño expressed his concerns on Tuesday, mentioning that the issue has been developing over multiple years and that the city is now working to address a problem that has escalated to its current state.
There is an ongoing investigation to determine if an illegal water connection discovered at one of the city’s supply sites with high bacteria levels played a role in the contamination. City officials emphasized the dangers of illegal connections, highlighting the risks they pose to public health. They also advised residents to hire certified plumbers for any water connection-related work to avoid fines and water service disconnections.
A recent update from city officials on Wednesday night revealed the presence of E. coli at one testing location, a high bacteria count at a nearby site, and clean results at a site farther away. Plans are in motion to separate water-supply plants to better manage the situation.
State Senator Judith Zaffirini, a Democrat from Laredo, has been providing daily updates on her Facebook page, including information on water distribution sites in the affected areas. Governor Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for Webb County on Wednesday to mobilize all necessary state resources to address the crisis. This declaration will also enable county and city officials to seek federal assistance as they work towards a resolution.
The incident in Laredo is the latest in a series of water-related issues in Texas. In August, residents in Rendon, North Texas, were advised to boil their water due to decreased water pressure at a supply plant. Last month, residents in Odessa were instructed to boil water following the detection of low water levels at one of the city’s water towers.
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