No Boil Water Plea: Austin Drinking Water Safe Despite Heavy Rain

AUSTIN, TX — Recent heavy rain has yielded the first major test for Austin Water in ensuring the precious liquid's quality since last year, when torrential storms dumped precipitation in such volume that officials weren't able to treat potentially compromised supplies fast enough — forcing the city's first-ever boil water notice to avert a public health threat.

So far, so good. Austin Water officials provided updates on water quality via social media in ensuring residents that lake water from which the drinking supply is drawn has not been compromised. Officials on Thursday said they are working closely with Lower Colorado River Authority officials implementing flood control measures by gradually opening floodgates. As of late afternoon, the so-called "turbidity" of the water supply is clear, with no signs of tell-tale cloudiness seen.

Late last year's flooding created a higher volume of water at area lakes while dumping an inordinate amount of debris and sediment on the water supply. Not able to treat water in their typically prompt fashion, Austin Water officials were forced to issue an unprecedented, week-long boil notice prompting residents to scramble for bottled water and forcing restaurants to issue temporary moratorium on offering patrons water.

Previous boil water notice coverage:

Austin Mandatory Boil-Water Notice Lifted

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

Austin Water Safe To Drink Now, But Usage Restrictions Remain

Mayor Declares Austin Disaster Area After Historic Flooding

No Clear Timeline Set For Lifting Austin Boil-Water Mandate

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

Austin Starbucks Stores Halt Coffee Sales Amid Boil-Water Notice

For the first time in its history last year, the city dispatched trucks to secure bottled water for wide distribution — in what amounted to a run on the precious liquid — as Austin Water crews worked feverishly to treat the supply. The unkindest cut for caffeine junkies amid the dearth of drinking water came when local Starbucks locations halted sales of coffee that require water for preparation, forcing die-hard fans to the city's outskirts for their java fix.

Related stories:

Austin-Area Dams To Be Opened Amid Flood Threat

Flash Flood Watch Issued For Central, South Texas

But as Austin Water has indicated in Twitter posts, the water supply is safe despite relentless rainfall that has descended upon the region: "Austin Water is monitoring the weather forecast & preparing for potential storms," officials wrote in a Twitter post. "Operations at water treatment plants are currently normal. Recent rain has not affected the clarity, or turbidity levels, in lakes Travis or Austin, the source of our drinking water."

Memories of that lack of unfettered access to drinking water is still fresh in residents' minds, but for now the likelihood of another water boil notice appears negligible. Still, residents keep their collective fingers crossed while simultaneously wish for reprieve from further rain.