DISASTER

What do I need to do after the boil water notice is lifted? And other power and water FAQs

Staff reports

Editor's note: The Statesman is making this story about Austin winter weather free for everyone to read as a public service. If you don't already, please subscribe today at statesman.com/subscribenow.

After Austin’s power crisis evolved into a water crisis, thousands across the city remained without running water or under a boil notice until Tuesday. 

We rounded up answers to some of the most frequently asked questions: 

What should I do when my water comes back on? 

Austin Water says that if you currently don't have water or if your pressure is low, your faucets do not need to be open when service is restored. When service resumes, ensure water pressure has returned by:

  • Opening one faucet at the highest level of your home to remove the air.
  • If water begins to flow, move to the next faucet and repeat the process.
  • If water doesn't flow, you may have a frozen pipe that needs thawed
  • Repeat the same process to flush all faucets to remove air and debris. 
  • Close faucets slowly. 

Is Austin still under a boil notice?

As of Tuesday, Austin Water said that the boil notice has been lifted for all their customers and boiling is no longer needed for water used for drinking, cooking and making ice.

What do Austin residents need to do when the boil notice is lifted? 

You should flush household pipes, ice makers, water fountains and other taps before using for drinking or cooking. Flushing simply means letting the water run to ensure that there is fresh water flowing through your pipes.

Follow these guidelines for flushing:

  • Run all cold water faucets in your home for one minute.
  • To flush automatic ice makers, make three batches of ice and discard.
  • Run water softeners through a regeneration cycle.

If my city is still under a boil notice, how long do I boil water for drinking?

The Center for Disease Control recommends using bottled or boiled water for drinking, preparing food and cooking. 

If bottled water is not available, local officials say water should be brought to a full rolling boil and then continue to be boiled for two minutes. Allow the water to cool before use. 

Where to go:Austin opens 10 water distribution sites Sunday

Can you wash dishes during a boil water advisory?

Household dishwashers are generally safe for use if the dishwasher has a sanitizing cycle or the water reaches a final rinse temperature of at least 150 degrees Fahrenheit.

To wash dishes by hand:

  1. Wash and rinse the dishes as you normally would using hot water.
  2. In a separate basin, add 1 teaspoon of unscented household liquid bleach for each gallon of warm water. Soak the rinsed dishes in the water for at least one minute.
  3. Let the dishes air dry completely before using again.

More:Can I use my dishwasher during a boil-water notice? And other frequently asked questions

Can you shower under a boil water notice?

You can shower or bath during the notice, but the CDC recommends being extra careful to not swallow any water while doing so. 

The CDC recommends using caution when bathing young children and babies and to consider giving them a sponge bath to reduce the chance of them swallowing water. 

How to unfreeze pipes?

If you turn on a faucet and only a trickle comes out, suspect a frozen pipe. Likely places for frozen pipes include against exterior walls or where your water service enters your home through the foundation.

Here's how to unfreeze pipes:

  • Keep the faucet open. As you treat the frozen pipe and the frozen area begins to melt, water will begin to flow through the frozen area. Running water through the pipe will help melt ice in the pipe.
  • Apply heat to the section of pipe using an electric heating pad wrapped around the pipe, an electric hair dryer, a portable space heater (kept away from flammable materials), or by wrapping pipes with towels soaked in hot water. Do not use a blowtorch, kerosene or propane heater, charcoal stove or other open flame device.
  • Apply heat until full water pressure is restored. If you are unable to locate the frozen area, if the frozen area is not accessible, or if you can not thaw the pipe, call a licensed plumber.
  • Check all other faucets in your home to find out if you have additional frozen pipes. If one pipe freezes, others may freeze, too.

For those with frozen pipe damage, the Texas Division of Emergency Management asked residents across the state to fill out a survey, which will be shared with other disaster agencies.

Where do I report damage I see in Austin?

According to a Tweet, Austin 311 said that residents who notice potholes, fallen trees and broken traffic signals around the area can call 3-1-1 or 512-974-2000 or download the Austin 3-1-1 mobile app to submit a service request. 

If you have large brush and tree limbs, here's what the city says: "If you're an Austin Resource Recovery customer who must remove large tree limbs, as a result of the winter storm, please cut tree limbs to any size between 5 feet to 15 feet in length and stack them at the curb no higher than 4 feet. Call 3-1-1 to schedule a storm debris collection. (Scheduled large brush and bulk item collections that were missed due to the severe weather have begun and will continue throughout the week, over the weekend and into next week until crews catch up.)"

What percentage of Texas energy is renewable?Breaking down the state's power sources from gas to wind.

I lost power for a long time, how do I know what food to throw out?

Some home freezers can keep food cold enough for a day or two without power, according to the United States Department of Agriculture.

Certain food items in the freezer can be safely refrozen, but not all items can be. Please keep in mind that food in your refrigerator operate under different guidelines. 

The USDA recommends discarding perishable food such as leftovers, eggs, fish, poultry and meat kept in the refrigerator after four hours without power. 

The USDA warns to never taste food to determine if it needs to be thrown out.  

For a full guide on what to keep and throw out visit the USDA's breakdown here.

How can I help Texans?

As Texas continues to experience fallout from an unprecedented freeze and statewide power outages, here are ways to help your fellow community members. 

How to help:Here's how you can help those in need in Texas, and what to do if you need help

Have more questions? Send us a text

American-Statesman editors and reporters have been providing updates via text message to those with limited power or service and answering questions from readers.

To get these updates and ask us questions, you can sign up on this page, or text "Hello" to 512-877-7308. We will do our best to answer as many messages as we can, but please be patient with us as we might be able to respond to every inquiry. Share this link and number with any friends or family who might also need access to updates. However, if you have an emergency, please don't text this number. Call 911.

¿Necesitas noticias en español? Envíanos un mensaje de texto al (512) 877-7308 con el mensaje “hola.” Después, haz click en el enlace y anota tu número de teléfono, y te enviaremos un número de confirmación.

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