UPDATE: Boil Water Notice has been rescinded

ECTOR COUNTY, Texas (KOSA) -

UPDATE: Shortly after the City of Odessa released that their boil water notice had been rescinded, ECUD also announced that their testing came back and the results showed that they would also be able to rescind their boil water notice.

UPDATE: On June 14, 2022, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality required the City of Odessa Public Water System TX0680002, to issue a Boil Water Notice to 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.

The public water system 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 June 18, 2022.

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Update (6/18/22): The city of Odessa will be presenting the results of the water testing required by TCEQ and information about the Boil Water Notice in a press conference at 2:30 PM at City Hall (411 W. 8th St.)

UPDATE 3:22PM: At 1:45pm the City pulled the samples required by TCEQ to rescind the Boil Water Notice. The analysis on these samples take 24 hours to complete.

Once we have received the lab results and they show that the distribution system has been thoroughly flushed and minimum levels of chlorine residual has been maintained throughout the distribution system, as required by TCEQ, and no bacteria is present the City can rescind the Boil Water Notice.

A formal notice will be sent to citizens when the Boil Water Notice has been officially lifted. Until then, we are still under the notice

UPDATE 1:30PM FRIDAY: Director of Public Works Tom Kerr tells CBS7 that samples have been sent off and results will be back in 24 hours. If samples come back clean, the boil water notice should be rescinded by 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

UPDATE: 11:23AM FRIDAY: City Councilmen Mark Matta tells CBS7 that they expect to start testing the water by noon Friday. Then, if the water is cleared the boil water notice should be lifted by 12 pm Saturday.

UPDATE: 10:24AM FRIDAY: CBS7 is working with city leaders to get the latest on the boil water notice. We will get you updates on when they will start testing the water and when you can expect the boil water notice to be lifted.

UPDATE 12:30 PM:

Odessa City Manager Michael Marrero tells CBS7 he expects all citizens of Odessa to have moderate pressure by end of the day today

After normal pressure is returned they will begin a 24-hour period of testing water samples for bacteria, etc.

Once the water samples pass all testing the boil water notice will be lifted.

Marrero adds the water is safe for watering plants and showering, but when washing hands be cautious. No consumption or cooking without boiling.

Lower Odessa will get normal pressure faster than upper Odessa. This will be true until maximum pressure is returned

Recharging the towers will help with gaining pressure back. Residents are asked to hold off/ be sparing with usage.

Repairs were finished last night. Today workers are making final adjustments, then they will fill the hole and repave.

Even as the city starts to get under pressure, it will be easier to recharge if people are sparing.

Bottled water is recommended to wash hands when preparing food.

UPDATE 12 PM: . State Representative Brooks Landgraf posted the following updates on his Facebook page- The City has 120 pallets of bottled water to distribute today at the Ector County Coliseum. There are 10 more truckloads lined up tomorrow. From my perspective, there is plenty of water, so please pick up your bottled water if you need it. Barn E at the Coliseum will be distributing water until *at least* 2:00 p.m. today!

The main line repair was completed at 3:45 this morning.

There is an ongoing concern about over-pressuring the system too rapidly due to this adjustment as well. However, over the past few hours (by flushing fire hydrants), the pressure is increasing throughout the system. The City is working to have the whole system up and running with adequate pressure by noon.

The City will not be chlorinating the water until the system is properly pressured.

Bacteriological sampling will occur later today, but test results may take at least 24 hours to obtain.

The water-boil requirement won’t be lifted until the water in the system is deemed safe for human consumption.

UPDATE 8:00AM 6/15:

The Ector County Utility District has told CBS7 that the Odessa Water Treatment plant is now back up and running.

ECUD called this process ‘recharging’. That means that workers are slowly adding water back into the system.

This will allow them to ensure there are no leaks anywhere. The entire recharge process could take anywhere from 12-14 hours to complete.

Once the recharge is done, the city will test the water for infection.

It is important to note that everyone who uses a city water line or ECUD line remains under a boil water notice.

Even if water is restored to your home or business, you must boil the water before using it for consumption.

CBS7 will update this story as more information is released.

UPDATE 9:18PM: At a press conference this afternoon, Tom Kerr, Director of Public Works and Utilities, explained that as the line is repaired, the city will begin to turn the system back on cautiously to maintain the integrity of all lines.

Kerr added that once the system is restored, there is a 24-hour time frame required to ensure that the water is safe and there are no bacteria present before rescinding the boil water notice. A release will be sent advising citizens of when it is safe to begin using water normally.

Moving forward, citizens will be notified when water will be distributed from the Ector County Coliseum site.

Persons 75 and over or those with special needs should contact Dawn Weeks with Connection Christian Church at 432-332-2954 to receive assistance with drinking water and/or potable for their household needs.

Tomorrow, water delivery to nursing homes will begin at 8 a.m. and Ector County Coliseum will be the only site for citizen water distribution from 9 am-2 pm.

City Offices will continue to be closed tomorrow until 1 pm.

UPDATE 4:21PM: The Governor has issued the following statement on the situation:

“The State of Texas is taking swift action to respond to Odessa’s impacted water supply and support the local community in meeting their water needs. I urge residents in Odessa to follow guidance from local officials and take the proper precautions to ensure their health and safety as we work together to restore safe tap water in the community.”

UPDATE 1:43: The City of Odessa will be setting up Water Distribution Sites (P.O.D.S) at the following locations beginning at 1:40 pm:

McKinney Park-625 W. Pool Rd.

Ector County Coliseum-4201 Andrews Hwy,

FM 1936 & W University

*You are limited to 1 case of water per vehicle.

UPDATE 1:33PM- According to State Representative Brooks Landgraf, TDEM is working to provide the City of Odessa with bottled water to distribute to citizens. 3 points of distribution are being set up today. The State of Texas is running multiple water shipments to Odessa throughout the day.

The 3 water distribution locations will be: Ector County Coliseum, intersection of FM 1936 & W. University Blvd. in West Odessa, and McKinney Park on the south side of town.

There are currently seven 18-wheelers hauling bottled water en route to Odessa with an estimated arrival time of 2:00 p.m.

UPDATE 10:00AM -

Odessa Mayor Javier Joven has said he declared a ‘State of Emergency’ with State officials.

By doing so, this opens up state resources to help with the water crisis in Odessa.

We still have not heard of where the City will be setting up water bottle distribution sites.

UPDATE 7:00AM -

Odessa Mayor Javier Joven called CBS7 this morning to give new information on the water main break.

The Mayor says that there was a 24-inch break on that main line at 42nd and San Jacinto.

City crews tried to isolate it b shutting down valves in that area, but that was unsuccessful due to the age and size of the pipe.

So, at 4:00 Tuesday morning, officials decided they had to shut down the water line at the source, which is the City’s water treatment facility located near 42nd and Golder.

This has led to nearly all of the water in the system to stop, affecting nearly all of Ector County.

The City of Odessa is working right now with the Texas Department of Emergency Management to identify locations to set up water bottle distribution sites.

Again, this water shutdown has affected the entire water system.

A boil water notice remains in effect. That information is below.

BOIL WATER ARTICLE:

A boil water notice is in effect for all of the City of Odessa and West Odessa, that’s according to officials.

This is connected to the major water main break at 42nd Street and San Jacinto. Crews are still on scene as of Tuesday morning.

Many areas are experiencing low water pressure or no water at all.

You can see the areas affected below:

Area affected by boil water advisory(City of Odessa)

This boil water notice has also affected the Ector County Utility District, which serves all of West Odessa.

To ensure the 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. The water should be brought to a vigorous rolling boil and then boiled for two minutes.

In lieu of boiling, individuals may purchase bottled water or obtain water from some other suitable source for drinking water or human consumption purposes.

We will update this story with any new information.