Lampasas issues boil-water notice
Posted On: Friday, Oct. 16 2009 03:33 AM
By Jackie Stone
Killeen Daily HeraldLAMPASAS – The city of Lampasas issued a boil-water notice Thursday morning after water samples fell below state standards.
City Manager Michael Stoldt said the low chlorine levels don't necessarily make the water unsafe to drink, but residents who get their water from the city should take precautions.
Lampasas gets its water from the Kempner Water Supply Corporation, whose customers have been under a boil-water notice since Monday. Kempner Water Supply's notice said the problem was caused by water with low chlorine levels it received from the Central Texas Water Supply Corporation.
On Monday, Stoldt said Lampasas' water met standards because of chlorine added by Kempner Water Supply.
On Thursday, Stoldt said the city had been taking samples periodically, and they fell below state minimum levels around 4 that morning.
"We were maintaining chlorine residuals, but apparently that bad batch of water is still working its way through the system and some of it is now hitting us in slugs," he said.
Lampasas posted the notice on its Web site, and took notices door-to-door, Stoldt said.
The city has sent off samples to be tested for bacteria to determine whether the water is dangerous. Stoldt said the city should receive the results in 24 hours
"Just because the (chlorine) residuals are low doesn't mean our water is bad, it just means there isn't adequate disinfectant in the water," he said.
If results of the bacteria test are good and the city is able to stabilize chlorine levels, the boil-water notice could be lifted today. If the results are bad, the notice likely will be in place until next week, Stoldt said.
The Kempner Water Supply Corporation has also sent off samples to be tested, but it hasn't received the results yet.
Residents who get their water from either the city of Lampasas or the Kempner Water Supply Corporation remain under the warnings until further notice.
The posting recommends that all customers under the notice use bottled water, or boil water used for drinking, cooking and making ice. Water should be boiled at a "vigorous" boil for two minutes and then cooled before use.
The notice asks that questions about the notice be directed to the Lampasas City Hall at (512) 556-8315 or (512) 556-6831.
Contact Jackie Stone at
jstone@kdhnews.com or (254) 501-7474.