Galveston, Texas
August 7, 2009
Water service for all areas west of 81st Street, temporarily excluding Jamaica Beach, has been disrupted until further notice.
Water service for all areas west of 81st Street, temporarily excluding Jamaica Beach, has been disrupted due to an electrical fire that broke out early this morning at the City of Galveston’s Airport Pump Station. The fire caused significant damage to the electrical circuit that powers the facility. The Airport Pump Station supplies water to the western half of Galveston Island. A boiled water notice has been issued for all areas on Galveston Island west of 81st Street, including Treasure Island in Brazoria County. As a precaution, for the next 24 to 48 hours, or until the City of Galveston withdraws the notice, individuals are instructed to boil their water or rely on bottled water for drinking and cooking. Once the City has sampled and tested the water in accordance with TCEQ regulations, the boil water notice will be lifted. At that time, residents and business owners will need to flush their own lines by turning on indoor and outdoor faucets, both hot and cold taps, and allowing water to run for several minutes. City staff is working quickly to repair the facility and bring the water system back online. It’s likely that generators will power the pump station for the next several weeks until permanent repairs are completed. City officials believe the fire started as a result of latent Hurricane Ike damage. The City of Galveston is asking property owners west of 81st Street to turn off their irrigation systems to conserve all remaining water in the system.
