Quemado and Normandy Residents advised to Boil Water before Consumption
By: Jose G. Landa, Copyright 2014, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.
Maverick County Judge David R. Saucedo and Maverick County Emergency Operations Center Director Leopoldo Vielma held a press conference on Thursday morning, June 26, 2014, to advise Maverick County residents in Quemado and Normandy to boil their water immediately until further notice from the County.
Saucedo and Vielma pointed out that the Water Boil Advisory is being implemented to ensure the quality of the potable water being consumed by Quemado and Normandy residents which was affected by the June 19-20, 2014 floods and the closure of the Maverick County Water Control and Improvement District No. 1 water canal, which supplies the water to the Maverick County Water Treatment Plant at the Radar Base.
The Eagle Pass Business Journal research discovered the following questions and answers on how to adhere to a water boil advisory.
Is it necessary to boil all water in the home during an advisory?
During boil water advisories, you should boil all water used for drinking, preparing food, beverages, ice cubes, washing fruits and vegetables, or brushing teeth. Severely immuno-compromised individuals should always boil their tap water for the purposes noted above. Infant formulas should be prepared using boiled tap water, at all times. In the event that boiling is not practical, the public water supply may recommend an alternative supply known to be safe (e.g., bottled water) or may direct you to disinfect the water using household bleach.
It is not necessary to boil tap water used for other household purposes, such as showering, laundry, or bathing. Adults, teens, and older children can wash, bathe, or shower; however, they should avoid swallowing the water. Toddlers and infants should be sponge-bathed.
How should tap water be boiled properly?
Water should be placed in a heat-resistant container or in an electric kettle without an automatic shut-off and brought to a rolling boil for one (1) minute to kill all disease-causing organisms.
Water can also be boiled in a microwave oven using a microwave-safe container, but it is advisable to include a glass rod or wooden or plastic stir stick in the container to prevent the formation of superheated water (water heated above its boiling point, without the formation of steam). The water should then be cooled and poured into a clean container or refrigerated until you are ready to use it.
At elevations over 6,500 feet (2,000 meters) water boils at a slightly lower temperature and should therefore be boiled for at least two minutes to kill all disease-causing organisms.
I have a water treatment device; do I still need to boil my drinking water?
If the device is designed to improve the taste and odor or chemical quality of the water, such as activated carbon filters, it is still necessary to boil the water. Check with the manufacturer if you are not certain.
During a boil order, can I wash my hands using tap water?
It is recommended that you wash your hands using soap and either bottled water or boiled water. An alcohol-based hand sanitizer may also be used.
During a boil order, can my family take showers or baths using tap water?
The risk of bathing in tap water is uncertain and so should be avoided particularly by people with open wounds or who are immunocompromised. For those people who choose to shower or bathe in the tap water, minimize the time spent in the water and be sure to keep your eyes and mouth closed. Babies and young children should not bathe or shower in tap water because they often swallow some water accidentally.
During a boil order, can I wash dishes using tap water?
You may use a dishwasher if it has a sanitizing cycle. If it does not have a sanitizing cycle, or you are not sure if it does, you may hand wash dishes and utensils by following these steps:
1.Wash the dishes as you normally would;
2.As a final step, immerse the dishes for at least one minute in lukewarm water to which a teaspoon of bleach per gallon of water has been added; and
3.Allow the dishes to completely air dry.
Can I use my coffee maker, ice machine, water or soda dispenser?
None of these devices should be used if they are directly connected to your water supply. Also, filters are unacceptable for removing bacteria. Once you have been notified that the boil order has been lifted, these devices should be cleaned and sanitized according to the operator’s manual for the device.
Can I give my pets tap water?
Although pets are not normally affected by the same diseases as humans, caution suggests giving pets boiled or bottled water.
What are the symptoms of water-borne illness? Disease symptoms may include diarrhea, cramps, nausea and possible jaundice and associated headaches and fatigue. Symptoms may appear as early as a few hours to several days after infection and may last more than two weeks. These symptoms, however, are not just associated with disease-causing organisms in drinking water; they may also be caused by a number of other factors. If you are ill with these symptoms, contact your health care provider.
What should I do when the boil water advisory or order has been lifted?
The local governing body will provide specific instructions. Consumers should flush water pipes within the home. When flushing it is important to carefully follow the instructions provided. Some types of water treatment devices may need to be disinfected and flushed to remove any contaminated water before being used. Depending on the type of water treatment device, the device may need to be replaced. Check with the manufacturer for details.
For any person in need of assistance Maverick County officials have set up 2 locals in which they are offering assistance to residents who were directly affected by the floods of June 19,20, 2014. Being provided at this locals are water supplies, foods, cleaning kits , comfort kits and there are also representatives of the Maverick County Hospital District who will be there to assist in medical issues such as loss of medications, medicinal accessories .
Emergency relief agencies available on site in Quemado for assistance are the American Red Cross and the Maverick County Food Pantry.
The two (2) designated locals offering Joint Agency Centers are the Seco Mines Elementary School located at 2900 Diaz Street, in Eagle Pass, Texas (830) 758-7073 and the Quemado Community Center at 20160 U.S. Highway North in Quemado, Texas.
Any Maverick County resident who may have a question regarding the water boiling advisory or assistance regarding the June 19-20th flood, please call (830) 773-2154 for more information or Leopoldo Vielma at (830) 773-3824.
