TSD, like AISD will conduct business as usual tomorrow. We have made this decision based on information from the Austin-Travis County Emergency Operations Center.

UPDATED 10/22/18 8:26 p.m.

TSD, like AISD will conduct business as usual tomorrow.  We have made this decision based on information from the Austin-Travis County Emergency Operations Center. 

Families of day students and staff should continue to boil water at home and bring it to school tomorrow.  

Precautions we have taken today and that will continue tomorrow include:

• We will continue our attempt to acquire as much bottled water as possible.
• Signage was posted at Drinking fountains to prevent use by staff or students.
• Campus staff provided boiled and bottled water to any students in need.

Our food services staff is taking  extra precautions to safely feed our students and staff today, and will follow the same protocols tomorrow:

• Cafeteria menus were adjusted to include hot vegetables, canned fruit and fresh fruits with peels such as orange and bananas.
• Menus may be adjusted to use less water.
• All water used for cooking, washing produce, washing hands and making ice is being brought to a vigorous boil before use.
• Kitchen staff are working to conserve as much water as possible.

We encourage everyone to talk to their students about the city’s water situation and about the importance of following the boil water requirements as we work to stay healthy and hydrated.

The city of Austin is posting updates online or you can follow them on Twitter @AustinTexasGov or @AustinHSEM.

TSD also will continue to post information on our website about how the boil water notice affects our school operations., and we will also share on social media. 

EARLIER 10/22/18 at 10:00 am

TSD Staff and Parents,

As we heard earlier today, the City of Austin issued a boil water notice for the entire City in effect as of Oct. 22, 2018. Their original notice can be found below.

We've also included an FAQ from the City which provides helpful guidance and information about this situation. Please make sure your school teams read this information! 

District officials are monitoring the situation and making determinations as necessary.  

We ask your assistance in helping to communicate to families that they should plan ahead in allowing time to boil water for consumption. While we do not know how long this situation will last, we think this is the best advice to our community so we are ready for whatever the next step could be. Bottled water is a viable option; however, it is not the only option and boiling the water is more economical. 

Thank you,

TSD Superintendent’s Office

Boil Water Notice FAQs

To ensure destruction of all harmful bacteria and other microbes, water for drinking, cooking and for making ice should be boiled and cooled prior to consumption. The water should be brought to a vigorous, rolling boil for three minutes. You may also use bottled water. State laws require that a Boil Water Notice be issued if a water system has (or could have) become contaminated from water main breaks, loss of system pressure, or results of routine sampling in the system.

• WHAT SHOULD I DO IF A BOIL WATER NOTICE IS ISSUED?
• Do not drink the water without boiling it first. Bring all water to a rolling boil for at least three minutes, and let it cool before using, or use bottled water. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, food preparation, and water for pets. Boiling kills harmful bacteria and other organisms in the water that may cause illness. You should throw away ice made during the time the notice was issued (freezing does not kill bacteria).

• IS THE WATER SAFE FOR WASHING DISHES, LAUNDRY, AND BATHING?
• The water is safe for washing dishes, but you should use hot, soapy water and rinse dishes in boiled water. There are no restrictions on doing laundry. The water is also safe for bathing.

• HOW DO I PREPARE FOOD AND BABY FORMULA?
• Only use boiled or bottled water for cooking, making ice, washing fruits and vegetables, and making baby formula. If you must use water to make formula, use bottled water. If you don't have bottled water, use water that has been rapidly boiled for at least three minutes. 

• HOW LONG WILL THE NEED TO BOIL WATER CONTINUE?
• Customers should not stop boiling the water until they receive notice from Austin Water. Typically the need to boil water lasts for 24 to 48 hours but can be longer. How long will depend on the conditions that caused the need to boil, how quickly the conditions are corrected, and how long it takes for laboratory results to confirm it is safe to return to normal water use. Austin Water will provide updates on the progress of corrective actions and how long the event is expected to last.

• WHAT DO I NEED TO DO WHEN THE NOTICE HAS BEEN LIFTED?
• Austin Water will notify you when it is no longer necessary to boil the water. You should flush your water system by running all cold water faucets in your home for at least one minute, cleaning automatic ice makers by making and discarding three batches of ice, and running water softeners through a regeneration cycle. 

• WHY IS THE BOIL WATER NOTICE IMPORTANT Inadequately treated water may contain harmful bacteria, viruses, and parasites which can cause symptoms such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. They may pose a special health risk for infants, young children, some of the elderly and people with severely compromised immune systems.

Austin Water Issues City-wide Boil Water Notice

(Austin)— Austin Water has issued a city-wide boil water notice for all customers of Austin Water. The notice is being issued as the utility works to stabilize the water treatment system.

Historic flood waters flowing into our water supply lakes contain very high levels of silt that makes it challenging for the water plants to produce the volume of water needed to supply customers at this time. The high level of debris, silt, and mud requires extended filtration that slows the process of getting treated water into the system. To provide necessary water pressure for fire protection, plants must distribute water at treatment levels not typical of the utility’s high standards for consumption.

To ensure that water is safe, customers are asked to boil water used for drinking, cooking or ice until further notice. It’s important to note that there have been no positive tests for bacterial infiltration of the system at this time.

“Anyone who’s seen the water running through Ladybird Lake can see how muddy it is. The unprecedented rain and runoff through our entire lake system has simply overwhelmed our treatment capacity,” said Austin Mayor Steve Adler. “The good thing is that we can continue with most of our daily routines – like showering, hand washing, and laundry – but we all need to do our part to conserve where we can, and boil the tap water we consume. We’re working with our partners in the school systems, health care, food service, and neighboring cities to make sure we’re all working together.”

What can customers do?

• Reduce water use as much as possible to ensure adequate supply is available for basic needs, fire protection, public health and safety.
• Boil water intended for consumption. To ensure destruction of all harmful bacteria and other microbes, water for drinking, cooking and for making ice should be boiled and cooled prior to consumption. The water should be brought to a vigorous, rolling boil for three minutes. In lieu of boiling water, you may use bottled water. 
• Businesses should not use drinking fountains or soda fountains that rely on tap water.

The boil water notice will be lifted once Austin Water can stabilize the treatment systems. Austin Water will notify residents when the water is safe for consumption and it is no longer necessary to boil the water.

City of Austin and Austin Water are working in coordination with public health and safety partners in the region to keep the public informed.

We have learned from a conference call with Austin Areas Superintendents that this is expected to be at minimum a 5-7 day problem.

CONSERVE WATER.  DO NOT GIVE STUDENTS A FULL BOTTLE.  USE SMALL CUPS TO DISTRIBUTE YOUR BOTTLED WATER. YOU MAY PICK UP CUPS FROM THE WAREHOUSE AND WE WILL REPLENISH OUR STOCK WITH MORE.

For updates please check the TSD website.