BELTON, TX — Boil water notices are a common occurrence in the Central Texas Area. So how is the decision made to issue boil water notice?
A boil water notice can come at any moment and is often because of an emergency situation. Most commonly it's because there is a leak or break in the water line. Other times it's because of contamination or even a natural disaster.
Clara Sanchez is far too familiar with boiling water. She has had many issues with the water in her home that she's resorted to a new plan.
"We always have one, two, three of this water, purified water," Sanchez said.
Purchasing water from her local grocer, she knows the water in those bottles will always be safe to drink.
Dog Ridge Water Supply in Belton says they check and test their water daily to ensure the water running through the pipes are okay.
"We do our best to take precautions on leak repairs to try and prevent them, but sometimes you just can't help it," Lafonda Wilsey said, General Manager of Dog Ridge Water Supply. "Then there are other events also that trigger a boil order that are beyond our control."
The one thing that scares Sanchez the most is when a notice is given, sometimes, it's a little too late.
"I was fortunate that one morning I was up and I flipped on the news and I'd seen it on the news. And I thought 'uh oh, how long has this been going on?' and like I said I and already been drinking it my stomach was full." Sanchez said.
According to the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality (TCEQ) water supply companies need to contact the public immediately and TCEQ within 24 hours of the notice being given.
"There's times we've issued three and four in a month and there's times we don't have to issue any," Wilsey said.
For more information on boil water notices visit the links below:
Business- What to do in a water crisis
