CLWSC Issues Boil-Water Notice for Comal, Blanco Counties as Crews Struggle to Bring Pumping Stations Back Online

Canyon Lake is under a precautionary boil-water notice due to extreme cold weather causing low or no water pressure and main breaks for Canyon Lake Water Service Company (CLWSC) customers.

In a press release released today, the utility said the notice will remain in effect for all customers in Comal and Blanco counties until further notice.

“Due to extreme cold weather resulting in possible low or no water pressure and main breaks, SJWTX, dba Canyon Lake Water Service, has issued a precautionary boil water notice for customers experiencing loss of service,” CLWSC said. “The boil water notice shall remain in effect until further notice and includes all customers in Comal and Blanco counties.”

Extremely low temperatures resulting in rolling power outages continue to impact pumping stations needed to replenish storage tanks in many neighborhoods, CLWSC said in a Facebook post today.

With power off to facilities unable to move water, frigid temperatures have caused some water pipes to freeze, further complicating recovery, CLWSC said.

Larry Jackson, director of Customer Service & Communications for CLWSC, also known as SJWTX, said the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality requires public water systems to notify all customers to boil their water before using it to wash hands/face, brushing teeth, drinking and other activities.

Subdivisions and areas especially hard hit by service interruptions include:

Canyon Lake Shores (TX0460019)
Triple Peak (TX0460172)
Rust Ranch (TX0160019)
North Point (TX0460235)
Glenwood (TX0460246)
Clear Water Estates (TX0460153)

CLWS asks customers to share this information with residents who might not have received a notice directly from the utility, including people in apartments, nursing homes, schools and businesses.

Jackson said notices should be posted in public places and recommends distributing copies by hand or by mail. Once the boil water notice is no longer in effect, the public water system will issue a notice to customers that rescinds the boil water notice.

Boiling Water

Children, seniors, and persons with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to harmful bacteria, and all customers should follow these directions, he said.

To ensure destruction of all harmful bacteria and other microbes, water for drinking, cooking, and ice making should be boiled and cooled prior to use for drinking water or human consumption purposes. The water should be brought to a vigorous rolling boil and then boiled for two minutes.

In lieu of boiling, individuals may purchase bottled water or obtain water from some other suitable source for drinking water or human consumption purposes.

The Big Freeze

Despite icy road conditions and with virtually all roads closed, some limited crews have restored service to treatment plants serving customers.

Yesterday, CLWSC said between 2,000 to 3,000 SJWTX customers had little to no water pressure due to extremely cold temperatures in the Canyon Lake area.

On Facebook, SJWTX said high electricity demand prompted rolling power outages that impacted some of its facilities in the Canyon Lake area. Particularly vulnerable are neighborhoods served by pump stations.

“As pump stations lost power, they were unable to move water into their respective storage tanks, resulting in freezing pipes,” SJWTX said. “We have been able to dispatch some limited crews to different critical locations to restore water. However, most crews are unable to travel due to icy conditions.”

For more information, contact CLWSC’s customer service department at 830-312-4600 or by email at customerservice@clwsc.com.

Update: Unconfirmed reports of a downed pole at The Point at Rancho del Lago are affecting three streets off FM 32 near the Devil’s Backbone in Fischer.

About SJWTX dba CLWSC

Canyon Lake Water Service Company is a state-regulated investor owned utility providing water service to approximately 50,000 people through more than 20,000 connections in Comal, Blanco, Hays, and Travis counties.