Austin Boil-Water Mandate Could Last 'Handful Of Days' To 2 Weeks

AUSTIN, TEXAS — The boil-water notice in Austin could last up to two weeks as utility officials work to filter out heavy debris, mud and silt accumulated during historic flooding last week, officials said Tuesday.

Travis County Emergency Management Coordinator Eric Carter said Austin residents will likely have to boil their tap water before drinking or using it for cooking between 10 and 14 days. In the meantime, residents are also being urged to limit the amount of water both indoors and outdoors and prolong use of the dishwasher and laundry to limit the amount of water being flushed into water plants crews are trying to clean.

But later that morning, officials amended their timeline on lifting the boil-water notice to just a few days. The 14-day period of implementation was posited as a worst-case scenario, prompting water officials to clarify. Utility and government officials were scheduled to apprise the public on the latest assessments at around 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, adding clarification on the boil-water timeline in the process.

"Based on the most current information, we do not anticipate our water issues to last beyond a handful of days," Austin Water Director Greg Mezaros said via Twitter. "Much of that estimate, however, depends on variables such as weather and consumption demands."

UPDATE: No Clear Timeline Set For Lifting Austin Boil-Water Mandate

Mezaros said the public would be apprised on progress being made to stabilize the water quality at treatment plants in the meantime: "We continue to make long-term plans in the event this situation isn't quickly resolved. We will continue to monitor the situation and ask that [the] public continue to be diligent in reducing their water usage."

Heavy rains last week compromised the quality of the city's main drinking supply, rendering it cloudy with flood-induced detritus. Some 888,000 people across the city have been affected by the aftermath of the historic floods by having to boil their water.

"Historic flood waters flowing into our region’s water supply lakes, the Highland Lakes, contain much higher levels of debris, silt, and mud," city officials explained. "As a result, Austin water is experiencing reduced water treatment capacity."

The Highland Lakes network of reservoirs were bombarded with mud and silt as a result of the historic floods. The boil-water notice on Monday morning sparked a citywide scramble for bottled water, and retailers quickly sold out on cases of liquid that suddenly took on the aura of prized commodity.

City officials, including Austin City Council member Greg Casar, highly urged residents to curtail their water use during the boil-water notice:

City officials reiterated that call for limited water usage while the water treatment plants are being stabilized. The plea was issued to lessen the amount of water being flushed into the water treatment system during cleanup.

"There is an urgent need for customers to reduce water use," Austin city officials wrote on a municipal website. "Austin water treatment plants can currently produce approximately 105 million gallons of water per day. Current customer use is about 120 million gallons per day. Water reservoir levels are reaching minimal levels. Immediate action is needed to avoid running out of water. All residents are asked to reduce your personal consumption by 15 – 20 percent. Avoid all outdoor water use and minimize indoor use immediately. This is an emergency situation."

During the boil-water period and until further notice, Austin Water utility officials said, all outdoor water use is prohibited. Customers may not:

• Use water for irrigation or testing of irrigation equipment.
• Wash vehicles, including at commercial car wash facilities.
• Wash pavement or other surfaces.
• Add water to a pool or spa.
• Conduct foundation watering.
• Operate an ornamental fountain or pond, other than aeration necessary to support aquatic life.

Violations of these restrictions should be reported to Austin 3-1-1, officials said. "Austin Water appreciates your support in reducing water use to help stabilize Austin’s water treatment plants," officials said. "The emergency water use restrictions are necessary to ensure water is available for firefighting and basic needs."

The problems at the water treatment plant could be viewed as something of an abstraction, made real to residents only through the need to boil their water before consumption. But a look at the Colorado River makes the issue real, making clear why tap water is now cloudy. Many are saying the tributary looks like a river of chocolate milk given its flood-induced muddy conditions.

Related stories:

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

Lake Austin Residents Brace For Man-Made Deluge As Dams Open

Travis, Williamson Counties Flash Flood Watch Extended

Travis County Judge Declares Region Disaster Area

Maps Show Destruction Should Travis County Dams Break

Texas Transportation Officials To Assess Storm Damage

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

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>>> Top image: View of the muddied, rain-swollen Colorado River from the MoPac Expressway (Loop 1), just west of Zilker Park, early afternoon on Friday, Oct. 19, 2018. Photo by Tony Cantú/Patch staff