Over 14 million Texans still do not have access to safe and clean water as officials maintain a boil water notice in 190 counties following a devastating winter storm.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) continued to issue the notice even as some water systems continue to stabilize following the historic storm’s damage across the state.
TCEQ personnel are working with local officials to bring wastewater systems back online. Until then, the commission will continue to issue boil water notices, which advise residents to either drink bottled water or boil tap water because community water is or could be contaminated.
WARMER TEMPERATURES BRING WELCOME RELIEF TO TEXAS AND SOUTHERN STATES AS RECOVERY BEGINS
“TCEQ is doing everything we can to support water systems as they recover from this weather event,” said TCEQ Executive Director Toby Baker. “We understand that it’s tough to be without water, or to have to boil it before consuming it, because we’re experiencing it firsthand alongside so many Texans.”
President Biden announced Saturday that he declared a major disaster in Texas and ordered federal assistance to aid local and state recovery efforts.
The statewide power outages caused a number of instabilities in other systems, including water systems and water treatment facilities. As many as 4 million homes were without power at the peak of difficulty.
Boil water notices are expected to remain in place for the rest of the week as local and state authorities work to fix all issues.
TEXAS RESTAURANT PROVIDES 500 MEALS AMID HARSH WINTER STORM
Despite these outages, some residents saw incredible spikes in their power bills, with one family reporting a bill of $17,000 for three meters over five days of use, Fox 26 Houston reported.
Gov. Greg Abbott called an emergency meeting with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan, and several members of the state legislature.
“We are moving quickly to alleviate this problem and will continue to work collaboratively throughout this week on solutions to help Texas families and ensure they do not get stuck with skyrocketing energy bills,” Abbott said of the meeting.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The legislators reportedly focused on how to quickly calculate the total cost of new energy bills and what the state can do to reduce the burden on residents.
Related posts:
- [LLODO] Biden administration converting Texas migrant centers to rapidly release detained families in 72 hours or less
- [LLODO] Texas beefs up border crackdown to stop human and drug smuggling
- [LLODO] Fired Texas electric grid chief refuses $800,000 severance package
- [LLODO] South Texas community seeing spike in car chases involving undocumented immigrants
- [LLODO] Biden says Texas and Mississippi guilty of ‘Neanderthal thinking’ over lifting COVID restrictions
- [LLODO] Biden says Texas and Mississippi over lifting COVID restrictions, guilty of ‘Neanderthal thinking’
- [LLODO] Newsom blasts Abbott for removing Texas mask mandate: ‘Absolutely reckless’
- [LLODO] Newsom blasts Abbott for reopening Texas: ‘Absolutely reckless’
- [LLODO] Texas parents reunited with quadruplets after ice storm kept them apart for 8 days