City of Jersey Village issues boil water notice

The city of Jersey Village issued a boil water notice late Feb. 16 in an effort to ensure water safety.

The city was required to issue the notice by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, which said it was needed because of a reduced distribution in system pressure. Jersey Village is one of many cities to issue boil water notices over the past 24 hours, including the city of Houston, Katy and the Memorial villages.

Water should be boiled prior to a variety of uses—including drinking, cooking, making ice, washing hands and face, and brushing teeth, according to a Feb. 16 statement from Jersey Village officials. Water should be brought to a "vigorous rolling boil" and then boiled for two minutes.

Boiling water is meant to destroy bacteria and other microbes that can be harmful to humans. Children, seniors and people with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to harmful bacteria, though all customers should follow the boil water notice, according to the Feb. 16 release.

Residents who cannot boil water are asked to purchase bottled water or to obtain water from some other suitable source.

The city is also asking residents to help spread information about the boil water notice to neighbors who may be without power or may not have received the notice directly, such as those in apartment complexes or nursing homes.

It was not immediately clear how long the boil water notice could be in effect. Officials said they will issue another notice when boiling water is no longer necessary and water is safe for human consumption.

Residents can direct questions to Director of Public Works Harry Ward at [email protected] or 713-466-2107, or to Operations Manager Roel Garcia at [email protected].