Marble Falls issues boil water notice in wake of flooding
Frank Shubert/The Highlander
Frank Shubert/The Highlander
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has required the City of Marble Falls Pictured here is an image of a home captured Oct. 16 in the wake of Llano River flood waters which swept into the Highland Lakes.
Connie Swinney •
Staff Writer •
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has ordered the city of Marble Falls to alert all residents today (Oct. 17) to boil water for consumption, following flooding of several neighborhoods due to stormwater runoff making its way into the Highland Lakes from the Llano River in the last 24 hours.
The Marble Falls Police Department Emergency Operations Center (EOC) issued the alert, “Due to conditions which indicate that the potability of the drinking water supply has been compromised as a result of recent flooding.”
“Children, seniors, and persons with weakened immune are particularly vulnerable to harmful bacteria, and all customers should follow these directions,” the EOC statement read. “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.”
Public safety officials offered instructions to do so properly. They include:
• Bring the water to a vigorous rolling boil and then boil for at least two minutes more.
• Let water cool naturally and store it in clean containers with covers.
• To improve the taste of boiled water add a pinch of salt per quart or liter of water.
Basic hand-washing and showering with soap and water is safe, officials say.
The city of Marble Falls will notify the public when they rescind the boil water notice.
To ask questions contact Marble Falls Public Works Director James Kennedy at 830-798-6260.
