Effective immediately, the City of Houston has lifted the boil water notice that has been in place since Wednesday, February 17, 2021. Customers no longer need to boil water used for drinking, cooking and making ice. Water quality testing submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has confirmed that tap water meets all regulatory standards and is safe to drink.
On February 17th, TCEQ required Houston Water to issue a boil water notice for the City of Houston’s Main Water System (TX1010013), and inform customers, individuals, or employees that due to conditions which occurred recently in the public water system, the water from this public water system was required to be boiled prior to use for drinking water or human consumption purposes.
Houston Water has taken the necessary corrective actions to restore the quality of the water distributed by this public water system used for drinking water or human consumption purposes and has provided TCEQ with laboratory test results that indicate that the water no longer requires boiling prior to use as of Sunday, February 21, 2021.
“The historic freezing temperatures in Houston last week caused water pressure to drop throughout the city. I appreciate everyone’s patience as Houston Water crews worked nonstop to restore the pressure and gain the TCEQ’s approval to lift the boil water notice,” Mayor Sylvester Turner said. “In the meantime, my office and partners distributed almost three million bottles of water citywide. Our community helped each other through tough times and once again showed why we are #HoustonStrong.”
NEXT STEPS
Customers should flush their water system by running cold-water faucets for at least one minute, cleaning automatic ice makers by making and discarding several batches of ice, and running water softeners through a regeneration cycle.
Please share this information with all people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses).
If customers have questions concerning this matter, they may contact 311 (713.837.0311).
WATER QUALITY TESTING
Houston Water worked with TCEQ to establish corrective actions necessary to lift the boil water notice. The actions included analyzing 43 water samples from throughout the City of Houston as required by TCEQ. Test results indicated that water provided by Houston meets all regulatory standards and is safe for human consumption. On Sunday, February 21, 2021, TCEQ gave the City of Houston approval to lift the boil water notice. Water quality reports are available online at: bit.ly/houwaterquality.
RESOURCES
Customers can visit: houstonemergency.org for the latest information and frequently asked questions, including guidance for food service establishments.
ABOUT HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS
Houston Public Works (HoustonPublicWorks.org) is the largest and most diverse public works organization in the country, responsible for creating a strong foundation for Houston to thrive. Houston Public Works is responsible for streets and drainage, production and distribution of water, collection, and treatment of wastewater, and permitting and regulation of public and private construction covering a 671-square mile service area. Houston Public Works is accredited by the American Public Works Association.
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