Officials said Tuesday that a water main break in West Texas could cause Odessa’s 165,000 residents to be without water for up to 48 hours. This is just like a heat wave.
According to the Ector County Office of Emergency Management, there is an “imminent danger” of severe damage, injury or loss of property in the oil boom town. This is due to a “mainwater line failure.”
The declaration stated that “the loss of potable waters is expected to occur within forty-eight hours.”
Odessa’s water main broke at the worst possible time. Residents are facing a heat wave in early summer with 100 degree temperatures on Tuesday, and forecasts of 98 and 96 on Wednesday.
According to a city statement, crews are trying to fix the crack at the intersection of San Jacinto and 42nd Streets as quickly as possible.
Despite the best efforts of workers repairs are taking longer than expected, according to the city.
The city stated that water levels had reached a point where a Boilwater Notice was issued. “Citizens can expect significant water pressure drops and/or no water. A large portion of the community is still without water.
The city stated that anyone caring for children, seniors, or people with weak immune systems should pay attention to the boil water order.
According to another city statement, “To ensure the destruction of any harmful bacteria and other microbes in water for drinking, cooking and ice-making, it should be boiled and then cooled before being used for human consumption or drinking water.” The water should be brought up to a rolling boil, then boiled for 2 minutes.
Tammy Henken (47-year-old mother of seven from Odessa) laughed at the city’s water boil notice.
“How can we boil water we don’t own?” Henken spoke to NBC News Tuesday afternoon.
She plans to make it through the next 48 hours by relying on her friends in Midland who were not affected by the water main breaking, as well as visiting her husband’s Odessa workplace, which has its own source of water.
Henken said, “And I accept this as a opportunity to help my children learn to trust God,”
Three locations are being used to distribute bottled water: McKinney park, Ector County Coliseum, and at the intersection West University Boulevard (FM) 1936 in West Odessa
Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) stated that emergency water supplies are being supplied to hospitals and nursing homes.
He said that he understood the frustrations of his community and gave a statement to constituents.
Odessa is located more than 350 miles west from Dallas on Interstate 20. It might be most well-known for Buzz Bissinger’s seminal, nonfiction book “Friday Night Lights”, which examines the town’s love affair high school football.
