edited, Feb. 17, 11 a.m.
The City of Commerce municipal water system has been offline since Tuesday evening, when the system’s pumps failed. There is no timeline for when repairs to the pumps will be completed and water pressure will be restored.
Even after water delivery resumes, a boil water notice issued Tuesday night will be in effect until discontinued.
The City of Commerce issued this statement late Wednesday morning:
The City of Commerce continues to experience little to no water across the distribution system. However, there has been some progress over the last 12 hours.
The Water Treatment Plant (WTP) received power last night at midnight. As treatment systems were coming online, it was discovered that one of the outside water pumps that is needed to push water into the treatment system malfunctioned. Crews have been working to de-ice the pump and a pump technician is driving to Commerce this morning to see if it can be recovered.
Additionally, City crews are working with the City of Sulphur Springs to deliver a 6” temporary pump to the water treatment plant in an attempt to get water into the treatment process. We are hopeful that we can begin producing water and getting it into the distribution system by this afternoon. All of our systems are reliant on electricity, so if the power goes down again, we will be unable to produce water.
Once water does become available in the system, we continue to strongly recommend boiling the water for two minutes before human consumption.
We will provide updates as this situation unfolds.
The City of Commerce issued the following statement Tuesday night:
Due to the winter weather and major power outages throughout the area, the City of Commerce water system has experienced reduced system pressure. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has required the City of Commerce public water system to publish a notice to customers to boil their water prior to consumption (e.g., washing hands/face, brushing teeth, drinking, etc). Children, seniors, and persons with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to harmful bacteria, and all customers should follow these directions.
To ensure destruction of all harmful bacteria and other microbes, water for drinking, cooking, and ice making should be boiled and cooled prior to use for human consumption purposes. The water should be brought to a vigorous rolling boil and then boiled for two minutes.
In lieu of boiling, individuals may purchase bottled water or obtain water from some other suitable source for human consumption purposes.
Once the boil water notice is no longer in effect, the public water system will issue a notice to customers that rescinds the boil water notice in a manner similar to this notice.
The City will work to keep you informed as conditions improve. Thank you for your understanding and patience as we endure this weather together.
Elsewhere in the area, the North Hunt Special Utility District, which serves customers in rural northern Hunt County, issued a boil water notice Tuesday afternoon. The North Hunt SUD is a rural water provider that serves customers who live near, but outside, the city limits of Commerce, Wolfe City and Ladonia. The agency released this statement:
Due to Low distribution pressures (<20psi) and loss of electricity, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has required the North Hunt SUD public water system to notify all customers to boil their water prior to consumption (e.g., washing hands/face, brushing teeth, drinking, etc). Children, seniors, and persons with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to harmful bacteria, and all customers should follow these directions).
To ensure destruction of all harmful bacteria and other microbes, water for drinking, cooking, and ice making 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, individuals may purchase bottled water or obtain water from some other suitable source for drinking water or human consumption purposes.
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 will issue a notice to customers that rescinds the boil water notice in a manner similar to this notice.
Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.
If you have questions concerning this matter, you may contact Jeremy Kinkade or Stacey Nicholson at 903-886-3458 or 903-366-6502 at the NHSUD office located at 201B Kings Plaza, Commerce Texas.
