Tap water along a busy stretch of U.S. 290 suddenly came with fine print on Wednesday, as about 11,000 customers of the West Travis County Public Utility Agency were ordered to boil their water after an equipment failure left storage-tank levels on the Highway 290 system critically low. The notice covers neighborhoods along the corridor from Circle Drive out to the Dripping Springs city limits and does not apply to the utility’s entire service area. Residents were warned to brace for low or even no water pressure while crews work to refill tanks and were urged to hold off on outdoor irrigation. The boil notice will stay in effect until water-quality testing confirms the system is safe.
Who’s affected and what to do
Customers in the affected area are being told to bring tap water to a vigorous rolling boil for two minutes before using it for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth or making ice. Bottled water is also fine, according to CBS Austin. Utility officials are again asking people not to irrigate yards while crews work to rebuild storage levels, warning that some homes may see very low water pressure or no water at all until the system recovers. Customers with questions can call the WTCPUA help line at 512-263-0125 or follow updates on the WTCPUA website.
Why the notice was ordered
According to the utility, the boil advisory was triggered when an equipment failure caused storage tanks on the Highway 290 system to drop to critically low levels, prompting a precautionary order, per CBS Austin. State rules require public water systems to alert customers when distribution pressure falls below certain thresholds, and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality lays out the steps agencies must follow before lifting a boil notice, according to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra shared the advisory on Facebook, noting that “water line breaks happen more often than people realize” and asking residents to be patient while crews work to restore normal service.
Local context
The WTCPUA supplies wholesale water to portions of northern Hays County and is estimated to serve roughly 11,000 wholesale connections, which means a pressure problem along the Highway 290 corridor can ripple across multiple subdivisions, Community Impact reports. The region has faced similar pressure-related advisories before, including during hard freezes and heavy irrigation seasons, and local outlets have chronicled prior boil notices tied to mechanical issues and low tank levels. Dripping Springs News detailed one January 2024 cold-weather episode that led to school closures.
What comes next
WTCPUA officials say the boil-water notice will be lifted once required bacteriological testing shows the system is clear, at which point customers will be notified through the agency’s website and alert system. Residents who need help or information about bottled water can call 512-263-0125 or sign up for notifications at WTCPUA. Until the advisory is officially rescinded, officials are sticking to the same guidance: boiled tap water and bottled water remain the safest choices for drinking and food preparation.
