2016-02-04

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FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM) – Thousands of residents and businesses in parts of North Fort Worth are being told not to drink the tap water. The City issued a boil water notice a little after 2 a.m.

The notice will be in effect until at least some time Friday.

Problems with the water were caused after an operational error led to the draining of an elevated water tank, which resulted in a drastic drop in pressure in parts of the water system. The loss of pressure means harmful bacteria and other microbes could get into the water. City crews have to run tests before the water can be deemed safe to drink again.

Fort Worth Water Department spokeswoman Mary Gugliuzza explained, “What we have to do now is go out to that area and pull some samples on the water and run some bacterial testing. Those take 18 to 24 hours to run.”

Information sent out early Thursday morning explained that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) requires that customers be notified that water in the area is not fit for consumption and should be boiled prior to ingesting.

Residents are also being reminded that water used for cooking or making ice should be brought to a vigorous, rolling boil. Gugliuzza said residents also, “…need to boil it for at least two minutes, and then allow it to cool before you consume it.”

The boil notice does not apply to water used for flushing, bathing or washing.

Water tankers,for filling containers, have been stationed at Fire Station #34, located at 14101 Sendera Ranch Blvd., and Fire Station #41, located at 11400 Willow Springs Road.

The affected area is bordered by Sendera Boulevard on the north, Willow Springs Road on the west, the Haslet city limits to the east, and Bonds Ranch Road to the south. It also includes the Trails of Fossil Creek and Fossil Hill subdivision.



A map of the area in far North Fort Worth where residents are being told to boil drinking water. (Source: City of Fort Worth)

The boil water notice is also having a negative impact on some schools in the Northwest Independent School District. Parents who have children attending the schools below are being encouraged to send their kids to school with bottled water, if possible.

Saying that “the safety of our students and staff is the school district’s first priority,” administrators are changing operations at six Northwest ISD campuses –

V.R. Eaton High School

Truett Wilson Middle School

Sonny & Allegra Nance Elementary School

Carl E. Schluter Elementary School

J.C. Thompson Elementary School

Sendera Ranch Elementary School

The Northwest ISD maintenance department will arrive to campuses early and make sure that all water fountains, at the six impacted schools, are turned off.

The contracted food service company will provide breakfast and lunch for students on Thursday and Friday, by using prepackaged food. But administrators say there will be no fresh fruit or vegetables served and the coffee shop at Eaton High will only serve bottled beverages.

A public water distribution area will also be set up at both Wilson Middle School and Eaton High, to provide bottled water to residents in the area.

“An operational error led to the draining of the Bradley elevated water tank on Harmon Road,” water department spokesperson Mary Gugliuzza said in a news release.  “All restaurants in the affected area are closed until the boil water notice is rescinded, which will occur no sooner than Friday afternoon.”

The loss of water will also mean a loss of profits for some businesses. All restaurants and food preparation areas in deli and bakery sections of grocery stores will remain closed until boil water notice is rescinded.

Officials have specified that business whose primary function is not food preparation such as nursing homes and daycare centers can remain open as long as they provide their clients with pre-packaged foods and only use water that is safe for consumption.

(©2016 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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