Houston Public Works working to improve water pressure throughout day

Houston Public Works is working to improve water pressure by the end of the day and thaw its distribution infrastructure as the first step toward lifting the city’s boil-water notice, officials said Feb. 17.

The city’s East Water Treatment plant is up to 70 pressure per square inch, up from 40 psi Feb. 15, Houston Public Works Director Carol Haddock said.

The department is also bringing additional water wells into service to increase supply, Haddock said.

As city workers thaw equipment and pressure increases, residents should have sufficient service to flush toilets by the end of day Feb. 17, and the city’s goal is to fully restore service by the end of day Feb. 18, Haddock said.

Once water is fully restored, it can begin the process of calling off the boil-water notice, which begins with leaving samples of the city’s water to incubate for 24 hours to ensure there is no presence of bacteria. Once confirmed by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, it clears the agency to allow Houston to lift the boil-water notice, according to TCEQ guidelines.