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Boil Water Order in the City of Bertram? No problem! Thank you to J Bar Contractor’s Services for answering the phone on a Sunday evening and delivering six portable hand washing stations to Bertram Elementary that same night. Contributed/BCISD
A lightning strike knocked down the SCADA (Supervisory control and data acquisition) system at the City of Bertram Water Plant on Sunday, Aug. 23, knocking out communications to multiple pump stations and causing low water pressure.
As a result, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality required the city to put out a boil water notice for all customers prior to water consumption (washing hands and/or face, brushing teeth, or drinking water). Children, seniors, and persons with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to harmful bacteria, and all customers should follow these directions.
To ensure destruction of all harmful bacteria and other microbes, water for drinking, cooking, and ice making should be boiled and cooled prior to use for drinking water or human consumption purposes. The water should be brought to a vigorous rolling boil and then boiled for two minutes.
In lieu of boiling, individuals may purchase bottled water or obtain water from some other suitable source for drinking water or human consumption purposes.
When it is no longer necessary to boil the water, the public water system officials will notify customers that the water is safe for drinking water or human consumption purposes. Once the boil water notice is no longer in effect, the public water system will issue a notice to customers that rescinds the boil water notice in a manner similar to this notice.
As of Monday, Aug. 24, the city was waiting on lab test results to be cleared by TCEQ in order to consider rescinding the boil water notice.
Residents with questions concerning this matter can contact Bertram Mayor Adam Lambert at 512-355-2020 or the TCEQ at 512-239-4691.
