City of Willis officials say a boil water notice is in effect as test results are expected Friday morning. The notice follows a water line break and outage that hit the city this week.
Water Line Break and Outage
The city suffered a major water line break and outage on Wednesday. Service was restored just after midnight Thursday. The boil water notice went into effect immediately afterward.
Mayor William Brown shared an update on social media overnight. He said there’s no indication the water is contaminated, but that the state requires water testing before the notice can be lifted. In the meantime, the boil water notice remains in effect.
What Brown Said
Brown’s message to residents covered three key points:
- There is no indication the water is contaminated.
- The state requires water testing before the notice can be lifted.
- Residents will receive an official notice once the boil water notice is lifted.
He said the results of the water testing should come in sometime Friday morning. He also noted that the notice remains in effect until the test results are available.
The Order of Events
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| Water line break/outage | Wednesday |
| Service restored | Just after midnight Thursday |
| Boil water notice issued | Immediately after restoration |
| Test results expected | Friday morning |
What the Testing Requires
The state requires water testing before lifting a boil water notice. That is why the notice remains in effect despite no indication of contamination.
Once those results are available, the city will issue an official notice to residents. Officials have not given a specific timeline for when that notice will be sent out beyond saying it will follow the test results.
What Residents Should Do
Residents should continue boiling water before drinking it or using it to prepare food. The notice covers cooking, washing produce, and making ice cubes.
Officials have not said whether showering or other household uses are affected. The city has not commented on whether the boil water notice applies to activities like bathing or laundry.
The Live Coverage
ABC13 is covering the story as it develops. The station is now live on Disney+, with breaking news, weather and traffic always under the live tab.
The notice is in effect, and the city is doing everything it can to resolve the situation as quickly as possible.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Water line break/outage: Wednesday
- Service restored: just after midnight Thursday
- Boil water notice issued: immediately after restoration
- Test results expected: Friday morning
- Official notice to residents: after test results
The city’s position is clear: the water is not contaminated, but state rules require testing before the notice can come off. Until Friday morning, residents should keep the kettle on.
See the a run of 17 images at ABC13 Houston.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.