Water news
West Fort Worth joins the party with newest boil water advisory
UPDATE 2-21-2021: The boil advisory for West Fort Worth has been lifted as of 11:30 am Sunday, February 21, the city announced. In a Facebook post, Fort Worth Water says, "This notice applies only to City of Fort Worth customers. Customers in Aledo, Westover Hills and White Settlement must get with their water provider. Each of these cities will have to get individual clearance from TCEQ to lift the boil water requirement."
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UPDATE 2-18-2021: West Fort Worth, start your stoves. Because of a loss of water system pressure, the city has notified water customers in the western portions of Fort Worth to boil their water prior to consumption beginning February 18. This impacts customers from Montgomery Street westward. The three cities in this area that buy drinking water from Fort Worth – Aledo, White Settlement and Westover Hills – have also been notified. For best boiling practices, see below.
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UPDATE 2-18-2021: The following Dallas-Fort Worth communities are under boil water advisories as of Thursday morning, February 18: Arlington, north Fort Worth, Haslet, Keller, Lake Worth, Northlake, Roanoke, Saginaw, Southlake, Trophy Club, Westlake, Benbrook, Denton, Boyd, University Park, Lewisville, Mesquite, Princeton, Pelican Bay, Providence Village, Richland Hills, Kemp, Kennedale, Everman, Springtown, and parts of Johnson, Fannin, and Hood counties.
Residents throughout the region are encouraged to conserve water through the end of the week.
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Arlington has become the newest city in Dallas-Fort Worth to issue a boil water notice to residents. On Wednesday, February 17, the city announced:
"Due to unprecedented demand and a possible major water main break, some Arlington Water Utilities customers may be without water service. For those with water, pressure may be reduced and tap water must be boiled prior to consumption. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality requires that a boil water notice be issued because of a recent pressure drop in the distributions system for the City of Arlington."
The notice advises all customers to boil their water prior to consumption (when drinking, washing hands/face, brushing teeth, etc.). Children, seniors, and people with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to harmful bacteria, they say.
"Arlington Water Utilities is working to restore water pressure in the distribution system," the notice says.
To ensure destruction of all harmful bacteria and other microbes, water for drinking, cooking, and ice making should be consumed only after water has been boiled to a vigorous rolling boil for five minutes, then cooled completely. In lieu of boiling, bottled water is safe to use.
"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," the city says. "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."
Periodic updates will be provided as the situation changes, they say, but questions should be directed to the Arlington Water Utilities Department at 817-275-5931 or to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality at 512-239-1000.
Arlington joins much of north Fort Worth and surrounding suburbs — including Keller, Roanoke, and Southlake — in a water-boil advisory. Parts of Benbrook, Everman, and Richland Hills are under boil advisories, as well.