Houston issues boil water notice following power outages to water treatment plants

Houston has issued a boil water notice to its millions of residents after water pressure in its main system dropped over the weekend, prompting several schools to cancel classes.

Officials on Sunday evening said that the pressure drop is attributed to a power outage at its East Water Purification Plant that began at 10:30 a.m.

Pressure has since been restored to its 2.2 million customers but the boil water notice was issued to ensure all harmful bacteria and other microbes potentially in the water were destroyed.

@HoustonTX wrote, “A boil water notice has been issued for the City of Houston!! Everyone should boil the water before drinking, cooking, bathing, and brushing their teeth.”

“We believe the water is safe but based on regulatory requirements when the pressure drops below 20 psi we are obligated to issue a boil water notice,” the office of Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said.