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Aransas Pass water deemed unsafe due to potential antifreeze contamination

Over the last 24 hours crews have been taking samples from all over the city that will need to be tested at a lab in Georgia.

ARANSAS PASS, Texas — The City of Aransas Pass has declared a state of emergency after a no use order for all potable city water was announced on Friday at 5 p.m., due to a possible contamination issue.

Residents are asked to not use water to drink, cook, bathe, brush teeth, or use for pets. Washing clothes and flushing toilets are allowed.

City leaders said a local business in AP may have had a chemical backflow into the city's water supply, which could've contaminated the water with antifreeze.

Officials said this could last a few days and they are estimating it to be resolved by Tuesday, June 29. 

Crews have been taking samples from all over the city that will need to be tested at a lab in Georgia.

We're told Governor Greg Abbott let the city use his airplane to deliver those samples to the lab.

During the emergency meeting, it was announced that over 240 pallets of water are on the. way to the area. Water will be distributed to residents after 4:00 p.m. today. Here's what you need to know.  

  • City staff will no longer provide you the muscle for loading water into your vehicles. Be sure to bring your own muscle.
  • There remains a limit to 3 cases per vehicle. You must leave, deliver those cases, and then return if you need more. 
  • You must provide proof of residency or personal impact from the Aransas Pass Water Crisis.
  • Security and police will monitor the distribution site through the weekend as long as it’s operational.
Credit: Aransas Pass Police Department

Rockport City Manager Kevin Carruth told 3News there is an air gap between the AP system and the San Patricio Municipal Water District. This means that it is impossible for any contaminates from the AP system to cross over the SPMWD system. SPMWD supplies AP, Rockport, and several other cities.

REWATCH: Emergency Meeting hosted at 7:30 p.m.

Corpus Christi Water Not Affected

Statement from the City of CC:

The no use water order issued in Aransas Pass does not affect Corpus Christi Water Utility customers. At approximately 5:30 p.m. today, the city of Aransas Pass issued a No Use Water Advisory required by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

Water supplied to Corpus Christi utility customers is safe for use.

If customers have any water or wastewater utility issues and would like a certified field technician onsite to assist, please call the city’s afterhours and weekend number 361-885-6913. 

Statement from TCEQ:

TCEQ is working with Aransas Pass, which has issued a Do Not Use Water advisory for the city as of Friday at 5 p.m.

Earlier today, TCEQ’s Corpus Christi Region Office was notified of a potential backflow incident.

TCEQ is onsite investigating an unknown chemical and other potential sources of concern within the public water system. TCEQ and the city are also collecting samples from the water system to analyze for the presence of constituents of concern.

In a do not use water advisory, citizens in the impacted area are urged not to drink or use the tap water from the impacted system for any purpose for the duration of the advisory, including for bathing or for pets. Flushing the toilet and washing clothes are OK.

The do not use advisory will remain in place until the water system has been tested and samples indicate that the water is safe to use. It is not known at this time how long this may take, but the health and safety of the public water system’s customers is TCEQ’s priority.

The TCEQ is sending 40 pallets of bottled water to the city and is working with the Texas Department of Emergency Management to provide other potable water to the citizens of Aransas Pass.

For the latest updates on coronavirus in the Coastal Bend, click here.

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