The city of Houston lifted its boiling water message on Sunday afternoon.
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Residents must:
– Run cold water through the tap for 1 minute to feed clean water into the pipes.
–Dump ice into the ice maker, then make at least three batches before using the ice.
–Put home water softeners through a regeneration cycle.
– Remove and clean screens on faucets.
The boiling water report was announced Wednesday after the city’s water pressure dropped below the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s required minimum of 20 pounds per square inch. Under this pressure there is an increased risk that contaminants can enter pipes.
The low pressure was caused by last week’s Arctic weather, which burst pipes throughout the city and failed equipment at water distribution facilities.
To clear the boiling water message, Houston’s water system had to bounce back to a stable pressure of 35 psi. Next, the city had to collect water samples and send them to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Those samples underwent at least 24 hours of lab testing to determine if bacteria were growing in the system.
“We got everything clear,” Mayor Sylvester Turner said at a press conference on Sunday.
Turner spoke from Butler Stadium where bottled water was being distributed. He acknowledged that, even with the boiling water message canceled, tens of thousands of people still don’t have water in their homes.
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“With so many pipes bursting through our region, people still need water, even though the boiling water message has been lifted,” Turner said.
People starting to fix their home should bring leaf rock and other debris to the curb, then call 3-1-1.
Turner promised Houstonians wouldn’t have to pay exorbitant water bills because of burst pipes. The city will change those accounts.
And if retail electricity providers don’t change high electricity bills caused by variable tariff plans, Turner said state lawmakers should take responsibility for those higher bills.
Variable tariff plans can go up or down based on the market and “your electricity company’s discretion,” according to Power To Choose, an electricity buying website operated by the Public Utility Commission. Variable plans allow customers to take advantage of low market prices, but are at increased risk of higher rates if electricity prices rise due to natural disasters, cold winters, or unfavorable market conditions.
“Just as we can do with water bills, the state of Texas should take the same responsibility it does with these high electricity bills,” Turner said.
And with the trauma caused this week – in addition to the trauma caused by COVID-19 – Turner also asked state lawmakers to increase funding for mental health.