Riverchase Pressure Zone near Gruene under NBU boil water notice

Before customers wash their hands, brush their teeth, or drink a glass of water, they need to boil water that comes from their faucets. Children, people with weak immune systems, and elderly people are the most vulnerable to the “harmful bacteria” that could be consumed.

Residents need to bring water to a roiling boil for at least two-minutes before cooling for drinking, cooking, or any other consumption. Bottled water, or water from sources outside of the system, are additional alternatives.

The release attributes the boil water notice to a drop in water pressure in the area’s system to below 20 PSI during an electrical outage, also stating “New Braunfels Utilities is working to restore the water pressure.”

Melissa C. Krause said to MySA in an email that it is currently unknown how long the boil notice will stay in affect. She did note there are 2,000 customers under the boil notice, and as of 10:45 a.m. there are 835 customers in the Smithson Valley experiencing power outages.

“This is dependent on when the [Pedernales Electric Cooperative] distribution lines servicing the pump station are restored. That is a requirement before we can restore,” Krause said. “This situation occurred due to the failure of multiple Lower Colorado River Authority’s owned static wires on their transmission system. A static wire is the wire that sits at the top of the pole and helps dispel power surges that occur during storms, reducing electrical damage.”

Krause said NBU is working to set up a water station and will send a notice to customers to let them know when the boil notice is lifted. 

Questions can be answered by NBU Director of Water Systems Michael G. Short by dialing 830-608-8971, or in person at 355 FM 306, New Braunfels, Texas 78130, the news release said. To contact the executive director of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, dial 512-239-4691.