 |
Friday, July 30, 2010 | Serving Del Rio and Val Verde County: Since 1929
|
|
|
Marketplace
Sections
AP News
Service Center
|
|
| |
|
Water main break causes concern
Published July 30, 2009
City officials are asking residents to boil water before consumption as a precautionary measure after a water main ruptured near U.S. Highway 90 and San Felipe Creek.
The break, which occurred sometime during the night between Tuesday and Wednesday, was discovered around 9:30 a.m. Wednesday and put back in service by 1:30 p.m., said Mitch Lomas, a water system official.
Lomas said more than five million gallons were lost during a 14-hour period.
Because of the loss in water pressure following the break, city officials issued an alert around 1 p.m. asking residents to boil water for at least two minutes before consumption.
“We lost a lot of water pressure and anytime that happens there is a possibility of bacteria and we must take the precautionary measures,” said Jackie Robinson, the city's public information officer.
The water department has collected 40 water samples from areas around the city and sent them for testing at a facility outside San Antonio, said Lomas.
Lomas added the samples must incubate for around 30 hours to determine if bacteria are present, which is why officials are asking residents to continue the practice of boiling water even though the line itself is fixed.
Because of the amount of water lost, Robinson said it would take time for the city's main storage tanks to refill, and city officials are requesting residents practice water conservation over the next few days.
“Basically what we're asking is that citizens refrain from washing their cars or watering lawns until those tanks are full,” said Robinson.
At Val Verde Regional Medical Center, where water is vital, administrators say they had no serious issues.
“We haven't had any issues yet,” said chief operating officer Jose Romo Wednesday afternoon.
Romo said department leaders throughout the hospital met upon learning of the break and began inventorying bottled water supplies, which he said were adequate, and brainstorming what issues could arise.
“We are basically taking a proactive approach and keep any problems from catching us by surprise,” said Romo, adding that department heads would meet again today.
Share |
Save |
Mail |
Print
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
