A boil water notice in Richardson was expected to stretch into Friday as the city awaited results of tests on the water supply, while Richardson ISD planned to reopen schools that were closed Thursday.
The boil water notice, issued Wednesday evening, affects almost 17,000 customers in the southwest portion of Richardson and prompted five Richardson ISD schools to close Thursday, though the district said the schools would be open Friday.
City Manager Don Magner said the earliest that the boil water notice can be lifted is around midmorning Friday, when the city is expected to receive test results from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality on the affected water towers.
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Magner said the city’s Holly Water Tower, between Mimosa Drive and Dogwood Drive in Richardson’s 767 water distribution zone, dropped in pressure to 0 PSI for about five minutes Wednesday, while two others in the same zone lost pressure but did not reach 0 PSI.
Magner said a dip in pressure raises concerns that bacteria could form in the water. He said the city is testing the water to make sure that it is still within TCEQ standards and that bacteria did not form during the brief dip in pressure.
The city is handing out bottled water free to residents at the Heights Recreation Center, at 711 West Arapaho Road. Magner said the city handed out about 1,000 cases of bottled water in about 90 minutes Wednesday night.
Water distribution was scheduled until 10 p.m. Thursday, with Friday hours from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., as long as the boil water notice is still active.
Magner said the city has been buying water from grocery stores and warehouse clubs andor receiving donations from local nonprofit organizations. While water handouts went slower Thursday than Wednesday night, he said Richardson is still stocking up on bottled water to ensure all residents can get the water they need free of charge.
By about midmorning Thursday, a steady line of cars had formed in the parking lot of the recreation center. As they pulled around, city workers in yellow vests loaded a case of water into the trunk of each car.
The number of cars in line varied from as many as a dozen at a time to sometimes as few as two or three.
Brian O’Connor, 67, said he heard about the boil notice from a neighbor Wednesday night. He was able to boil a couple of gallons of water to use overnight.
He said Thursday morning, he went to Walmart to buy bottled water and found the store sold out. O’Connor then learned the city was handing out water, which he said was “awesome.”
“I can only compliment them,” O’Connor said of the city’s reaction to the situation. “They reacted very, very quickly. I love the city, and I think they’re doing a good job, and this just helps out.”
Magner said residents can follow the city’s social media pages or check the city’s website, cor.net, to receive updates on the situation.
“Our main goal right now is to make sure that every resident can receive the information about this,” Magner said.
Richardson ISD said in a statement Thursday afternoon that the district plans to operate normally on Friday with precautions in place should the boil notice still be active.
The statement said the five schools closed Thursday — Arapaho Classical Magnet, Dover Elementary School, Heights Elementary School, Richardson West Junior High and Richardson High School — will cover water fountains and bottle refill stations, provide students and staff with bottled water and serve cold breakfast and lunches in cafeterias that do not require water to cook.
Richardson ISD said hand sanitizer would be available outside restrooms and around schools.
For residents in the affected area, the city advised boiling water prior to using it, including before drinking, cooking or making ice. Richardson’s website says it is OK to use the water for bathing or washing hands, as long as soap is used “vigorously” for a 20-second period during handwashing and as long as the water is not ingested while bathing.
Restaurants in the affected area can operate as long as they take the proper precautions to disinfect the water, according to the city’s website.
Magner said the city will conduct an investigation into the pressure drop and look for ways to prevent the situation from happening again.
CORRECTION, 5:30 p.m., Nov. 7, 2024: An earlier version of this story misstated the area of Richardson affected by the boil water notice. The affected area is in the southwest portion of the city.