Update: Boil order rescinded
UPDATE: The City’s boil order was rescinded at 10:19 a.m. on Wednesday.
A press release from the city stated: “On March 29th, 2022, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality required the City of Vernon public water system, TX 2440001, to issue a Boil Water Notice to inform customers, individuals, or employees that due to conditions which occurred recently in the public water system, the water from this public water system was required to be boiled prior to use for drinking water or human consumption purposes.
“The public water system has taken the necessary corrective actions to restore the quality of the water distributed by this public water system used for drinking water or human consumption purposes and has provided TCEQ with laboratory test results that indicate that the water no longer requires boiling prior to use as of March 30th, 2022.
“If you have questions concerning this matter, you may contact Darell Kennon at 940-552-9961, 2015 Oak Street, Vernon, TX 76384.
“The City of Vernon took samples to an accredited lab which has cleared the water for use by all citizens, performed an adequate flushing of the water lines, and has maintained water pressure far above the required 20psi.
“If a customer, individual, or employee wishes to contact the TCEQ executive director, please call (512) 239-4691”
The City of Vernon is under a boil notice until further notice, with Vernon ISD canceling class on Tuesday and residents urged to boil water before contact.
“Our water pressure went down too low last night due to a leak. The leak was caused by a fiber contractor drilling through our line,” City Manager Marty Mangum said.
The leak occurred in front of Walmart and involved an 8-inch line, which dropped pressure below 20psi.
The Wilbarger County Emergency managment issued the following notice:
Due to an 8” water main break, the pressure in the water towers dropped below 20psi, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has required the City of Vernon public water system to notify all customers to boil their water prior to consumption (e.g., washing hands/face, brushing teeth, drinking, etc). 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.
Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.
If you have questions concerning this matter, you may contact Darell Kennon at 940-552-9961 or at 2015 Oak Street, Vernon, Tx 76384. If a customer, individual, or employee wishes to contact the executive director of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), please call (512) 239-4691.