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February 2021 Water Contamination Timeline of Events
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Beginning of contamination event Feb. 5 – Feb. 8
The City was contacted by a City resident in the PaulAnn area on Friday, Feb. 5, 2021, about an odor complaint. City staff visited the resident’s house on Friday and verified (along with the resident) that there were no further odors from the resident’s water. The City did not receive further complaints on Saturday. Three complaints came in from that area on Sunday. The number of complaints rapidly increased Monday (Feb. 8) morning in the PaulAnn area of the City’s distribution system. At that time, the City notified TCEQ and began field testing in the area to try to identify the potential area of contamination to support physically isolating the contaminated area from the rest of the City’s distribution system. Water samples were shipped overnight to an independent laboratory in Austin to help determine the cause.
As a precaution, Water Utilities sent (6:19 p.m.) a notice citywide that citizens do not use the water until the cause and source was determined. This included bathing. Water could be used for flushing of toilets or for watering landscape.
Chlorine residuals and bacteria tests in the area were normal. There was no concern for bacterial contamination, which is being monitored continuously at this time.
Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021 – 4:17 p.m.
High plane area released from restrictions
The City released the restrictions in the area that we refer to as the high plane (green area). The City of San Angelo operates two pressure planes due to the difference of elevation throughout the City. Each pressure plane serves portions of the distribution system that are hydraulically separated from other pump stations or pressure planes. The hydraulic separation was in existence and in operation prior to the do-not-use order, which has allowed the City and TCEQ to determine that the apparent contamination has been limited to a portion of the lower pressure plane. Because the apparent contamination appears to be limited to a portion of the lower plane, the TCEQ and City have determined that the water in the upper pressure plane is safe to begin using again and that portion of the City is released from the do-not-use order.
At this time the contaminate in our water was still unknown. We are continuing to work with the TCEQ to lift restrictions on more of the City but the timeliness of that is dependent upon the LCRA labs and the administrators at the TCEQ.
Feb. 9 – 11:06 p.m.
Another portion of the City released from do-not-use water order
The City and TCEQ have identified and approved a new area to be released from the do-not-use water restrictions. Areas that are released are in green on the attached map. If you are not in the green area, then you are still under the do-not-use notice.
Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021
Customer Service Inspectors (CSI) from McAllen arrived and began to inspect businesses on Feb. 11 in the northern industrial area. These inspectors worked in San Angelo through Saturday, Feb. 13.
A customer service inspection is an examination of the private or on the customer’s side of the water distribution facility. The inspection is limited to the identification and prevention of cross-connections, potential contaminant hazards, and illegal lead materials. The CSI will analyze every end-point use of water to determine if a cross-connection exists, if it needs additional backflow protection devices, or if it meets all the requirements and a cross-connection is not present.
Feb. 10 Press Conference – 3 p.m.
Feb. 10 Press Conference – 9 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021 – 9:33 p.m.
White zone upgraded to do-not-drink order; excludes PaulAnn area
Today, Wednesday, Feb. 10, the City received results for the second round of testing from samples taken Tuesday, Feb. 9. Based on the results, as of 9 p.m. this evening, the City and TCEQ have agreed to modify the current do-not-use order for the white zone identified in the attached map to a “do-not-drink” order, while the current isolated PaulAnn area will remain under the current do-not-use order.
The second round of testing results consisted of 22 samples, with only three samples testing positive for benzene. The positive samples reflected benzene levels below the TCEQ’s regulated maximum contaminant level for benzene, which is five micrograms per liter, meaning that all 22 samples met water quality criteria required by TCEQ for safe drinking water. However, TCEQ also collected samples this afternoon but has not yet received those test results.
Thursday February 11 - 9:40 p.m.
The City of San Angelo has been working with TCEQ and personnel from the City of McAllen and McAllen Public Utility all day on various aspects of the water contamination issue in San Angelo. TCEQ is still waiting to receive sample test results back from the LCRA – because of this, we are unable to release any additional areas for full use of City water.
Topics focused on in the news release:
- Separation of industrial area
- Flushing of PaulAnn area
- Test samples in green and white areas
Friday, Feb. 12, 2021 – 3:05 p.m.
The City and TCEQ have identified and approved a new area to be released from the do-not-drink water restrictions. Areas that are released are in green on the attached map. If you are not in the green area, then you are still under the do-not-use notice. All residents in the green area can use their water regularly without restrictions. There is no need to flush lines in this area, as no contamination was found in that part of town.
Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021 – 5:52 a.m.
Do-not-use water advisory in PaulAnn area downgraded to do-not-drink
Last evening, the City received its next set of testing results (sampled on Thursday, Feb. 11) of samples from random locations throughout the previous green and white areas, the PaulAnn area and the separate northern industrial area. On Monday, Feb. 8, the northern industrial area was physically separated through valves from the majority of the PaulAnn area and has remained isolated since.
The City received testing results for the City’s third and fourth rounds of testing (including the PaulAnn area) and immediately began data review coordination with the TCEQ. The third and fourth rounds of testing results consisted of 26 samples. Between the City’s second, third and fourth testing results, the City and TCEQ have determined that all samples tested within the PaulAnn area over the last four days have all tested below the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for benzene, which means the samples within the PaulAnn area have been compliant since Thursday, Feb. 11. The last result above the MCL for contaminants in that area was from results received on Tuesday, Feb. 9.
Given the fact that in the last four days all sample sets from the PaulAnn residential area have identified no benzene or other contaminates above the MCL, the City proposed to TCEQ to downgrade the residential portion of the red isolation zone from a do-not-use order to a do-not-drink advisory. This would allow for the residents in that area to flush their systems and also be able to bathe, do laundry and wash dishes. Late last night, Feb. 12, the TCEQ approved this request. The City and TCEQ agreed to maintain the requested do-not-drink advisory for this area until the area flushing of the lines was completed and a final set of tests were taken and found to have no contaminants over the MCL. Flushing is anticipated to be completed by mid-day Saturday, Feb. 13.
Because there were still positive benzene results above the MCL in the northern industrial area, — which is still completely isolated through valving from the remainder of the City — the City and TCEQ agreed it was necessary to maintain the northern industrial isolation area as a red zone falling under the do-not-use order until the flushing of these areas have been completed and post-flushing test results have been approved by the City and TCEQ.
Feb. 13 – 4:53 p.m.
Test sampling data and background information
Attached are the sample results from this week, along with a document giving detail and background about the different chemicals that were found.
The investigation into the location of the original contamination is still ongoing. Updates will be shared as we receive them.
Feb. 25 – City Manager update on PaulAnn water contamination issue
The investigation is still ongoing. Unfortunately, this is not a quick or simple investigation. Along with experts from the TCEQ and City of McAllen, we have investigated and continue to investigate multiple businesses in the area but still do not have the concrete evidence we need to pinpoint the official source of contamination. It is of great importance to me to let the public know, as soon as possible, when we have any new developments to report.
The City will be taking samples every week in the PaulAnn area to ensure that the area continues to stay contamination free. The northern industrial area, which is where we suspect the original contamination came from, has been valved off since Feb. 8 for containment purposes from the PaulAnn area and the rest of the City. The safety of our citizens is our top priority.
We will continue to work diligently to find the source of the contamination, learn all we can about what occurred and do everything possible to ensure that something like this never again happens in our community.
March 2 – Water Utilities Director provides update on PaulAnn issue to City Council
Customer Service Inspectors (CSI) from Lubbock, Brownwood and Abilene were in San Angelo during the week of March 1-5 continuing the investigations of various facilities in the northern industrial area.
As a result of these inspections, many of these locations will be required to upgrade or install additional backflow devices to further protect the City’s potable water supply.
The City will be working on expanding and enhancing their backflow or cross-connection program moving forward. This will be presented to City Council in the future as the program details, implementation, funding and staffing have yet to be determined.
March 10
Test sample results for Feb. 8-March 1 for the PaulAnn and northern industrial areas are now available. We have attached the sample results and a map to be used only in reference to the test samples, as the reference map is different than the current usage map.
March 16 - Water Utilities Director provides update on PaulAnn issue to City Council
March 16 - PaulAnn water contamination update, FAQ
The City of San Angelo, along with other officials across Texas, are continuing to investigate the cause of the water contamination that occurred around Feb. 8 in the PaulAnn area. All personnel involved are working diligently to identify the potential source and ensure there are no ongoing concerns.
The contamination issue was not a source water issue; it was isolated to the PaulAnn and northern industrial areas of the city. The northern industrial area is still under a do-not-drink order. The City of San Angelo is delivering bottled drinking water on a regular basis to the 29 residents who reside in this area.
The businesses in this area have worked with the City to provide access to their facilities. We will be working with these facilities to improve their plumbing systems and further protect the City’s water system.
This is truly a needle-in-a-haystack kind of investigation because the chemical volume that caused the contamination could have been less than a gallon. We do believe this was a one-time occurrence rather than an ongoing issue.
Below are some frequently asked questions regarding the contamination issue and the efforts being made to identify the source:
What has been done in regard to investigating potential businesses or contamination sites?
Under our Disaster Declaration, the City of San Angelo was able to request additional assistance from the State of Texas. Inspectors from McAllen, Lubbock, Brownwood and Abilene – who were sent by the State – have been inspecting businesses in the northern industrial area. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is currently conducting its own investigation in that area, as well.
A total of 85 facilities and businesses located in the northern industrial and PaulAnn areas have been inspected. As a result, locations with inadequate protection will be required to upgrade or install additional backflow devices to help protect the City’s potable water supply.
Explain the investigation process; what were investigators looking for?
The inspectors sent by the State have Customer Service Inspector (CSI) certifications and specialize in identifying deficiencies in commercial plumbing inspections.
A customer service inspection is an examination of the customer’s side of the water distribution system. The inspection is limited to the identification and prevention of cross-connections, potential contamination hazards and illegal lead materials. The CSIs analyze every end-point use of water to determine if a cross-connection between the facility and the water system exists, if additional backflow protection devices are needed, or if all requirements are met and a cross-connection is not present.
The City of San Angelo will be hiring several CSIs in the near future and will be implementing a more rigorous cross contamination program citywide to greatly reduce the likelihood of an issue like this happening again.
Has the City figured out who is responsible for contaminating the water? If not, will they ever?
At this point, inspectors have not found direct evidence linking the contamination to a specific site. Our investigators continue to explore and investigate all possibilities. Some have inquired about whether or not the City was protecting the guilty party; the answer to that is no. The City wants to find the party responsible as much as everyone else does. It’s important to note that this investigation is being conducted by more than just the City of San Angelo; the State of Texas, through TCEQ, is also investigating the incident. As the investigation continues in the area, more and more businesses are excluded as the potential source.
If the City can’t locate the site, will the northern industrial area ever be released from restrictions and placed back on the system? If that does happen, what assurances do citizens have that the contamination won’t happen again?
Currently, the area remains valved off from the rest of the water system. It will be some time before those valves are opened and the northern industrial area is released from the current do-not-drink advisory. Both of these steps are being taken to make sure any deficiencies found during the investigation process are fixed and addressed before returning to normal operations. To further ensure there are no ongoing issues, both the PaulAnn and northern industrial areas will continue to be tested weekly to make sure there are no contaminates found in the water.
Don’t businesses have to report the chemicals they use? If so, why doesn’t the City know which business is responsible?
Under Tier 2 regulations by the TCEQ, businesses are required to report hazardous chemicals stored on site that reach a certain weight threshold to state and local officials, such as the Fire Department and the Emergency Management Division. If stored chemicals do not reach these thresholds, then they do not have to be reported to state or local officials. Based on the volume of chemicals found in the water, it is not expected that the chemicals were being kept in reportable quantities. The amount of chemicals that caused the contamination could have been less than one gallon.
March 19
Test sample results for Feb. 8 to March 11 for the PaulAnn and northern industrial areas are now available. We have attached the sample results and a map to be used only in reference to the test samples, as the reference map is different than the current usage map.
March 26
Test sample results for Feb. 8 to March 18 for the PaulAnn and northern industrial areas are now available. We have attached the sample results and a map to be used only in reference to the test samples, as the reference map is different than the current usage map.
April 6 - Water Utilities Director provides final update on PaulAnn issue to City Council
Summary of the presentation in the video above.
- The City did not find the source of the contamination and without new information will likely never know who was responsible. We did not find definitive proof of a deficiency combined with a location utilizing all the chemicals found in the contamination.
- The February contamination event could have been caused by less than a gallon of chemicals, which made the investigation even more difficult.
- The City was assisted in the investigation by experts from all over the state, including inspectors from the cities of McAllen, Brownwood, Abilene and Lubbock.
- TCEQ conducting independent investigation
- The contamination event could have been caused by a commercial or residential customer, meaning that it could have been something such as the lack of a commercial backflow preventer like and Reduced Pressure Zone Device (RPZ) or Reduced Pressure Backflow Assembly device (RBPA), lack of air gap on equipment or an atmospheric vacuum breaker (AVB), which is installed on hose bibs at both commercial and residential facilities.
- Both the PaulAnn and northern industrial areas are still valved off from the rest of the city and are being tested weekly to ensure the safety of the drinking water. Both areas have one-way feeds into the system so water cannot circulate from that area or into the rest of the system.
- The northern industrial area, which includes 29 residential customers, is still under a do-not-consume notice. The City has sent all test results and inspection reports to TCEQ. We are awaiting response from the TCEQ on when we will be able to release the northern industrial area from restrictions.
- 85 inspections were done on 81 sites in the northern industrial area
- 4 sites had to be revisited due to items such as follow-up notes in a previous CSI report and timing with the storm in February
- 59 of 81 sites received letters to address deficiencies
- 34 of 59 letters were to address deficiencies such as hose bib vacuum breakers or air gaps at the hot water heater
- 25 of 59 letters were items such as adding, relocating or upgrading backflow assemblies
- The sites that received a letter have 30 days to address the deficiencies
- Moving forward:
- The City will implement a more rigorous backflow/cross-connection program citywide
- Form a committee to oversee program made up of City staff, community members and professionals from various related fields (i.e. plumbers)
- Adopt ordinances related to further plumbing requirements
- Dedicate employees solely to customer service inspections in coordination with the Water Utilities Department
April 9
Test sample results for Feb. 8 to April 1 for the PaulAnn and northern industrial areas are now available. We have attached the sample results and a map to be used only in reference to the test samples, as the reference map is different than the current usage map.
April 16
Test sample results for Feb. 8 to April 12 for the PaulAnn and northern industrial areas are now available. We have attached the sample results and a map to be used only in reference to the test samples, as the reference map is different than the current usage map.
May 3 - Northern industrial area do-not-drink restriction lifted
The City of San Angelo would like to announce the removal of the do-not-drink notice in the northern industrial area of the city. The water utility has been successful in providing information to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, allowing the northern industrial area (previously the white area on the map) to return to normal water usage.
The decision was made after ongoing sampling and improvements to deficiencies made in the northern industrial area.
To ensure the safety of businesses and residents in this area, the City will continue to take samples from the PaulAnn and northern industrial areas for the foreseeable future.
The northern industrial area will continue to be valved off from the rest of the water system as a precautionary measure.
Guidance for RO systems
When restrictions are lifted in the red and white areas and returned to normal water usage, it is recommend for residents in those areas who have home water filtration units and/or filters to replace their filters before consuming water through those units. It is also recommended to contact the filtration provider to consult with them regarding inspections and/or replacement.
May 11
Test sample results for Feb. 8 to April 29 for the PaulAnn and northern industrial areas are now available. We have attached the sample results and a map to be used only in reference to the test samples. The entire City water system has returned to normal water usage.
To ensure the safety of businesses and residents in this area, the City will continue to take samples from the PaulAnn and northern industrial areas for the foreseeable future.
The northern industrial area will continue to be valved off from the rest of the water system as a precautionary measure.
May 14
Test sample results for Feb. 8 to May 4 for the PaulAnn and northern industrial areas are now available. We have attached the sample results and a map to be used only in reference to the test samples. The entire City water system has returned to normal water usage.
To ensure the safety of businesses and residents in this area, the City will continue to take samples from the PaulAnn and northern industrial areas for the foreseeable future.
The northern industrial area will continue to be valved off from the rest of the water system as a precautionary measure.
May 24
Test sample results for Feb. 8 to May 17 for the PaulAnn and northern industrial areas are now available. We have attached the sample results and a map to be used only in reference to the test samples. The entire City water system has returned to normal water usage.
To ensure the safety of businesses and residents in this area, the City will continue to take samples from the PaulAnn and northern industrial areas for the foreseeable future.
The northern industrial area will continue to be valved off from the rest of the water system as a precautionary measure.
June 4
Test sample results for Feb. 8 to May 24 for the PaulAnn and northern industrial areas are now available. We have attached the sample results and a map to be used only in reference to the test samples. The entire City water system has returned to normal water usage.
To ensure the safety of businesses and residents in this area, the City will continue to take samples from the PaulAnn and northern industrial areas for the foreseeable future.
The northern industrial area will continue to be valved off from the rest of the water system as a precautionary measure.
June 11
Test sample results for Feb. 8 to June 1 for the PaulAnn and northern industrial areas are now available. We have attached the sample results and a map to be used only in reference to the test samples. The entire City water system has returned to normal water usage.
To ensure the safety of businesses and residents in this area, the City will continue to take samples from the PaulAnn and northern industrial areas for the foreseeable future.
The northern industrial area will continue to be valved off from the rest of the water system as a precautionary measure.