LONDON, Texas — UPDATE (April 23): A 'Do Not Drink' Advisory is in effect in the London area.
TCEQ upgraded the advisory from a 'Do Not Use' to a 'Do Not Consume.'
The advisory, posted by Aqua Texas, says "Due to conditions which have occurred recently in the water system, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has required the London Water System public water system to notify its customers to not use tap water for consumption.
- Tap water should not be used for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, or making beverages or ice.
- Tap water should not be used for pets or animals to drink.
- Tap water should not be used for dishwashing
Limited Uses of Tap Water
The tap water can used for toilet flushing and washing clothes.
The tap water can used for bathing, showering, and hand washing. We advise customers to be careful not to swallow any water when bathing or showering. However, infants and young children should not bathe using tap water since they may swallow some of it.
Test results have shown chemicals in the water; however, results show levels below long-term health concentrations. The water may be discolored or have an odor. Further remediation is being undertaken by your water system.
DO NOT TRY AND TREAT THE WATER YOURSELF. Boiling, freezing, filtering, adding chlorine or other disinfectants, or letting water stand will not make the water safe.
For more information call Benton Cripps 830-257-6301
Bottled water is available at the community center."
Kimble County Judge Hal Rose said Monday on social media, "Aqua Texas continues remedial activities on the standpipe related to the water system. Additional sampling will be required to bring the standpipe back online. Aqua has put into place an emergency bypass system to bypass the standpipe. In the meantime, samples from the distribution system and emergency bypass were obtained and TCEQ testing results confirmed that Aqua could rescind the Do Not Consume Advisory while the emergency bypass remains in place, and citizens are advised to flush their water and dispose of any ice from their residences."
ORIGINAL STORY: Residents of London (Texas) are under a Do Not Use Tap Water Notice, as of Thursday, April 18, the London Water System says.
Residents were informed by Kimble County Judge Hal Rose Thursday afternoon that water provided by Aqua Texas is "currently not fit to use".
Rose's message on social media reads:
"Good afternoon. For our London residents and visitors, we have been made aware that the water provided in London by Aqua is currently not fit to use. Our understanding from TCEQ is they are recommending that currently there is no way to sterilize or purify the water. There will be water available at the London community center at approximately provided by the EMC, KCSO and LVFD. Please do NOT drink or otherwise use the water from Aqua until further notice.
At this time, we do not know how long this will last, but Aqua, TCEQ and others from the state and county are working on it."
Aqua Texas said it rehabilitated the water storage tank that supplies water to the London community in work that was completed Feb. 26, 2024. The tank was disinfected and refilled March 20 and returned to service March 27.
Since March 27, customers have reported an odor in the tap water. Because of the odor, the TCEQ has required the notice issued for London residents.
Tap water cannot be used for anything other than flushing toilets, the notice says. Anyone who uses it risks illness. Residents are advised to not try to treat the water themselves which includes boiling.
Only bottled water can be used for consumption including making baby formula, brushing teeth, making ice, bathing, showering, washing dishes or clothes and washing hands.
Bottled water will be provided to each customer and can be picked up at the London Community Center on Tyner Street.
Samples have been collected by Aqua Texas and the TCEQ. Once the sample results are returned, Aqua Texas will update customers.
A 2022 annual drinking water quality report from Aqua said London's water supply comes from the Ellenburger-San Saba Aquifer. That report said the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality's assessment of the well that provides water for the London water system "is susceptible to certain contaminants as a result of human activities or natural conditions." Aqua said it does not mean that there are any health risks present.
For more information, contact Benton Cripps at 830-257-6301.
