SAN ANGELO, TX — Parts of the City of San Angelo Water Utilities system was reopened Tuesday afternoon as City and State engineers isolated the incidences of suspected contamination to include only the largest part of the water distribution system.
Allison Strube, Water Utilities Director, said the water distribution pipes are separated into two separate systems called the upper and lower planes.
“The City of San Angelo operates two pressure planes due to the difference of elevation throughout the City. Each pressure plane serves portions of the distribution system that are hydraulically separated from other pump stations or pressure planes. The hydraulic separation was in existence and in operation prior to the do-not-use order, which has allowed the City and TCEQ to determine that the apparent contamination has been limited to a portion of the lower pressure plane. Because the apparent contamination appears to be limited to a portion of the lower plane, the TCEQ and City have determined that the water in the upper pressure plane is safe to begin using again and that portion of the City is released from the do-not-use order,” Strube said.
Those who live in the green area that is designated the upper plane on the map can now use their City water (click here for a a hi-res *pdf of the map):
Areas in the green area are cleared for use of water
Meanwhile, the City has enlisted the aid of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Lower Colorado River Authority to help find the source of the suspected water contamination.
Signs of the suspected contamination didn’t happen with a singular incident, Strube said. She said the alarm about the water was more gradual as 50 or 60 complaints trickled into her office starting Monday morning, Feb. 8. By the early afternoon, her department was investigating what could have caused it and more importantly what the source of the foul odor in some residents’ taps in the PaulAnn area, of the city’s northeast side, was.
So far, the usual suspects are mentioned, but the City has not nailed it down. Among the suspected sources of the suspected contamination are industrial waste and the landfill. However, Strube said all sources of possible trouble are under scrutiny and she said the investigation and testing so far has not pinpointed the trouble.
“We have to know what it is before we find the source,” Mayor Brenda Gunter said.
How City Institutions are Reacting
The Tom Green County Detention Center — or, the county jail — relies upon the City of San Angelo Water Utilities system for water. Since the crisis involving suspected contamination, Sheriff Nick Hanna said prisoners are being provided water.
“This water is packaged in 16 ounce bottles, gallon jugs, and 5 gallon jugs to sustain operations. Additionally arraignments have been made to acquire additional water resources should they be needed,” Hanna said.
All San Angelo ISD campuses will be closed to students tomorrow, Feb. 10. The school district said the water crisis is continuing to impact the majority of San Angelo ISD campuses. However, students will connect virtually.
Shannon Health, the operator of the two major hospitals, has an emergency operations team that regularly plans for adverse events such as severe weather, power outages, and interruption of water. Lyndy Stone, spokeswoman for Shannan, said the medical system is following its contingency plan for this particular situation and ensuring its staff and patients have adequate supply of bottled water for their needs.
“Out of caution, we have rescheduled some non-emergent surgeries for tomorrow,” Stone said.
Walmart and H-E-B are donating bottled water to the City of San Angelo. City Manager Daniel Valenzuela said there will be announcements about how to pick up the water for any citizen in the City. It will likely be conducted in drive-through distribution centers.
Mayor Brenda Gunter said National Guard troops will be used for the water testing operations. The TCEQ employs the use of their own testing personnel. In this case, the Guard’s 6th Civil Support Team will perform those duties.
The City issued a “do not use” advisory for its municipal water Monday at 6 p.m. The crisis moves into its second day as engineers continue to test the water to determine what contaminants, if any, have fouled San Angelo’s water system. So far, there are more questions than answers.
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