The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is the State agency responsible for the regulation of public water supplies in Texas. The TCEQ has the authority to require water systems to issue boil water notices under certain conditions. These conditions are: 

·        Water quality that does not meet TCEQ regulations;

·        Failure to keep adequate records of water quality; or

·        Loss of pressure for extended periods of time in the piping system, which delivers water to your house.

Lakeway Municipal Utility District’s (District) water quality monitoring and record keeping systems are redundant systems that guard against the first two of these three conditions and therefore it is very unlikely that the first two conditions will occur.  The third condition is more common.

By keeping a positive pressure in the delivery system we can be sure that no unwanted substances will be pulled into the system.  Our storage tanks normally maintain water levels that will ensure good pressure throughout the system.  Unfortunately, tanks occasionally drop to low levels or even drain completely when there are problems such as large water main leaks, pump failures, lightning storms, etc. Normally, when these things happen, a Lakeway employee is able to correct the problem before system pressure is lost, but occasionally there is a loss of pressure in the system.  This is when a boil water notice is required because the water could be unsafe.  It is important to understand that a boil water notice is issued as a precaution to alert our water customers of the possibility of unsafe water and is issued with your welfare in mind.

When a boil water notice is issued, we gather samples immediately from the affected area and take them to the Texas Department of Health Laboratory for analysis. This test takes twenty-four hours to complete and must be started during normal working hours. As soon as we get results, we notify you that the water has been found safe to drink. 

The District strives to provide safe water at adequate pressures at all times.  Occasionally, problems can occur.  Thus, we wanted to explain the reason you could receive a Boil Water Notice.