Austin Mandatory Boil-Water Notice Lifted (Updated)

UPDATE: Austin water officials on Sunday afternoon lifted the citywide boil-water notice that's been effect since last week, enabling residents to drink or prepare meals with their tap water without fear of ingesting bacteria.

The order was lifted at around 4 p.m. on Sunday.

"Austin Water has lifted the boil water notice that has been in place since Monday, Oct. 22, 2018," utility officials announced on Twitter. "Customers no longer need to boil water used for drinking, cooking and making meals."

Residents with additional questions should click here.

En español

ACTUALIZACIÓN: Los funcionarios de la ciudad el domingo por la tarde dijeron que el suministro de agua de la ciudad ahora se puede beber sin necesidad de hervirlo primero. Esto termina una orden que ha estado vigente desde el 22 de octubre cuando las aguas de la inundación comprometieron el suministro de agua de la ciudad.

El pedido se levantó alrededor de las 4 p.m. el domingo.

"Austin Water ha levantado el aviso de hervir agua que ha estado vigente desde el lunes 22 de octubre de 2018", anunciaron los funcionarios de servicios públicos en Twitter. "Los clientes ya no necesitan hervir el agua utilizada para beber, cocinar y hacer comidas."

Los residentes con preguntas adicionales deben hacer clic aquí.

From earlier:

AUSTIN, TEXAS — Don't stop boiling your drinking and cooking water just yet, Austin residents. Austin Water officials on Sunday said they're still trying to stabilize their water treatment plants to rid the precious liquid of flood-related gunk, but the H20 is not yet drinkable.

Late last week, Mayor Steve Adler and others said they hope to have the boil-water order that's been in place since last Monday lifted on Sunday. But Austin Water officials said via Twitter residents need to keep boiling their water for the time being. The city's drinking supply was compromised after historic flooding last week when huge volumes of debris, mud and silt bombarded the supply, rendering water treatment plants unable to filter it quickly enough.

As a result, Austin residents have been forced to boil their tap water before drinking it or using it in meal preparation. Bottled water distribution points have been set up across the city for those unable to secure safe water that is free of potential bacteria like the public supply.

But Sunday may turn out to be an overly optimistic timeline as far as the boil-water notice being lifted. While officials are still attempting to meet that self-imposed deadline, Austin Water officials said they're not quite there as of noon Sunday.

"Were gathering testing results and working with TCEQ [Texas Commission on Environmental Quality] closely," Austin Water officials wrote on Twitter. "We'll notify the public once we're able to lift the boil water notice for all Austin Water customers. While we remain optimistic it will be later today, we need to complete the process before making any announcement."

On Saturday, water officials said that by halfway through the day, their distribution sites had doled out 27,048 cases of bottled water to nearly 6,000 residents.

Related stories:

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No Clear Timeline Set For Lifting Austin Boil-Water Mandate

Nature's Fury: Central Texas Rain Leaves Destruction In Its Wake

36 More Texas Counties Declared Disaster Areas Amid Flooding

Judge Declares Williamson County Disaster Area After Flooding

Travis County Judge Declares Region Disaster Area

Austin: 5 Things To Know About Filters, Boil-Water Alerts

Austin Starbucks Stores Halt Coffee Sales Amid Boil-Water Notice

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