TEXAS CITY, Texas – The 24-hour boil water notice that was issued for Texas City on Thursday has been lifted Friday morning, according to Texas City Emergency Management.
On Thursday, the city said E. coli bacteria was found in the water supply.
Bacterial contamination can occur when increased “run-off” enters the drinking water source (for example, following heavy rains). It can also happen due to broken pipes or a failure in the water treatment process, TCEM said.
What should you do now that the notice has been lifted?
- Run all cold water faucets in your home for at least five minutes.
- If you get your water from a dispenser in your refrigerator, run the water for at least five minutes until it is clear. Do the same thing with your showers and sinks.
- Flush automatic ice makers. Ice cubes should be emptied and run through a 24-hour cycle. Make three batches of ice and discard them. The water line should be clear and ice should be safe to consume with the fourth batch
- Run water softeners through a regeneration cycle.
- Run an empty dishwasher for a full cycle.
- Get rid of water in humidifiers, CPAP machines and any other electric devices that collect water. Thoroughly clean all the machines before using them.
- Flush all toilets.
- Drain and refill hot water heaters set below 113°F.
- Change all point-of-entry and point-of-use water filters, including those associated with equipment that uses water.
For more general guidelines and ways to lessen the risk of infection by bacteria and other disease-causing organisms, call the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.