KILLEEN, Texas (May 10, 2022) – The Bell County Water Control and Improvement District #1, which supplies the city’s water, rescinded a boil water notice (BWN) at 3:45p.m. today, following a major water pressure loss at one of its plants, as well as loss of electricity.
At this time, the City of Killeen is lifting the citywide boil water notice that was initiated on May 8 for the entire city except for the Middle Pressure Plane (Map Attached) and for residents at 2207 - 2217 Patricia Circle who are under a separate boil water notice, due to a water line break that occurred on May 9.
The City of Killeen sent separate water samples to be tested for the WCID BWN, as was recommended to each city, and results showed additional water testing is required. More samples have now been sent and, pending results of those water quality samples collected tonight, all remaining residents may be released within the next 24 hours.
WCID #1 enforced the original boil water notice under Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) guidelines on May 8. It affected all residents and businesses in cities WCID services, including Killeen, Harker Heights, Copperas Cove, Belton, Nolanville and the Fort Hood Military Reservation.
WCID had an electrical power outage at the Belton Water Treatment Plant on May 8. That followed a water pressure loss from May 7 when there was a break in a 48-inch transmission main.
A BOIL WATER NOTICE was issued for City of Killeen residents and business beginning May 8 at 2:30p.m. Residents in portions of the city have been lifted from the BWN, although the Middle Pressure Plane remains under a BWN for at least another 24 hours. Residents in that area should continue to boil all water prior to consumption until water sampling results confirm that no contamination occurred. Public notice will be issued through the City of Killeen website KilleenTexas.gov, by news release and the Boil Water Notice Hotline at (254) 501-6515 when the notice is lifted for the Middle Pressure Plane.
TCEQ Required Notice:
Due to conditions caused by water system repair, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) required the City of Killeen, PWS 0140006, to notify all City of Killeen customers to boil their water prior to consumption. Children, seniors, and persons with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to harmful bacteria, and all affected customers should have followed these directions. A press release was issued and local news agencies were notified.
The City of Killeen public water system has taken the necessary corrective actions to restore the quality of the water distributed by this public water system used for drinking water or human consumption purposes and has provided TCEQ with laboratory test results that indicate that the water in portions of the city no longer requires boiling prior to use as of May 10, 2022 at 9p.m.
For those still under a BWN: To ensure destruction of all harmful bacteria and other microbes, water for drinking, cooking and for making ice should be boiled and cooled prior to use for drinking water or human consumption purposes. The water should be brought to a vigorous rolling boil and then boiled for two minutes. In lieu of boiling, you may purchase bottled water or obtain water from some other suitable source. When it is no longer necessary to boil the water, the public water system officials will notify customers that the water is safe for drinking water or human consumption purposes. Once the boil water notice is no longer in effect, the public water system officials will issue a notice to customers that rescinds the boil water notice in a manner similar to this notice.
For updates on this order, call 254-501-6515. If you have questions regarding this matter, you may contact the Water and Sewer Services official at 254-501-6319.