A power outage that threatens drinking water resources. Millions of residents in the city of Houston, Texas, had to boil their water before drinking it Monday because of a power outage at sewage treatment plants on Sunday that also led to school closures, authorities said.
“The city of Houston has issued a boil water advisory. All residents should boil their water before drinking, cooking, bathing or brushing their teeth,” the southern metropolis warned Sunday night.
With 2.2 million people, Houston is the fourth largest city in the country and is home to companies in the fields of energy, aeronautics and healthcare.
The causes of the failure are still unknown.
This is due to a drop in water pressure that fell below the level required by the Texas Department of Environmental Quality (TCEQ) due to a power outage that affected three stations of the wastewater treatment plant, according to reported the city and Texas Governor Greg Abbott.
The cause of the outage and its duration were still unknown Monday and are under investigation. Local authorities also announced the closure of schools and offices on Monday.
The TCEQ must sample and test the water, which is safe to drink according to Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner’s office, to determine if the boil water recommendation could be lifted Monday night or Tuesday morning.
In February 2021, an unprecedented cold snap caused pipes to burst, depriving much of Texas and its nearly 30 million residents of potable water for several days.
Source: BFM TV
