Boil Water notice issued for MUD 47

THE WOODLANDS, TX – The Woodlands Joint Powers Agency has confirmed a temporary BOIL WATER NOTICE for customers of MUD 47 with The Woodlands Township and Hello Woodlands.

UPDATE 2/23/18: Water in MUD 47 tests safe; Boil Water Notice rescinded 

Due to an E. coli positive repeat sample taken at a single residential location on South Copperknoll Circle, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has required Montgomery County Municipal Utility District No. 47 (MUD 47) to notify all customers to boil their water prior to consumption (e.g., washing hands/face, brushing teeth, drinking, etc.). Children, seniors, and persons with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to harmful bacteria, and all customers should follow these directions.

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.

When it is no longer necessary to boil the water, MUD 47 will notify customers that the water is safe for drinking water or human consumption purposes.

Please refer to the notices for further information:

Notice from The Woodlands Joint Powers Agency: WJPA and SJRA Detect E. Coli Bacteria at Residence in The Woodlands Affected customers in MUD 47 notified, urged to temporarily boil drinking water.

THE WOODLANDS, Texas, Feb. 22, 2018 – As required for all public water systems, The Woodlands Joint Powers Agency (WJPA) and San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA) routinely collect and test hundreds of water quality samples throughout The Woodlands drinking water system. WJPA recently received test results showing that one sample location tested positive for E. coli bacteria in Montgomery County Municipal Utility District No. 47 (MUD 47). The sample was taken from a residential hose bibb connection on South Copperknoll Circle. Subsequent water samples upstream and downstream of this location tested negative for bacteria. We believe the positive bacteria sample to be isolated to this one address. The homeowner was immediately contacted and is working with WJPA staff to determine what may have caused the bacteria positive sample.

Pertinent information:
• Approximately 120 locations are sampled each month.
• During this round of sampling, only the South Copperknoll Circle location tested positive.
• The chlorine disinfectant level at this sample location was well above the minimum required.
• Additional residences upstream and downstream of this location were tested and all came back with clean results.

What will happen?
• State water quality rules set forth detailed procedures for notifying residents any time a water system receives a positive test for bacteria.
• WJPA will follow the required procedures and notify customers in the affected area to boil drinking water until further notice. (A copy of the Boil Water Notice is attached to this release.)
• WJPA staff has initiated an investigation with the homeowner to try to determine the cause of the failed sample. What could cause a positive sample result like this?
• An investigation is needed to identify a cause but the following are examples of issues that could lead to a positive bacteria test:
o A failed irrigation system backflow preventer.
o A failed vacuum breaker on a hose bibb.
o A recent plumbing or irrigation system repair at the location.
o A recent line break near the sample location. o Contamination of the hose bibb itself.
o Faulty sampling or testing procedures.

BOIL WATER NOTICE FOR MONTGOMERY COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NO. 47 (Public Water System No. TX1700458)

February 22, 2018 Due to an E. coli positive repeat sample taken at a single residential location on South Copperknoll Circle, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has required Montgomery County Municipal Utility District No. 47 (MUD 47) to notify all customers to boil their water prior to consumption (e.g., washing hands/face, brushing teeth, drinking, etc.). Children, seniors, and persons with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to harmful bacteria, and all customers should follow these directions. 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. When it is no longer necessary to boil the water, MUD 47 will notify customers that the water is safe for drinking water or human consumption purposes. Once the boil water notice is no longer in effect, MUD 47 will issue a notice to customers that rescinds the boil water notice in a manner similar to this notice. TCEQ requires that we include the following language in this notice: “E. coli are bacteria whose presence indicates that the water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes. Human pathogens in these wastes can cause short-term effects, such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other systems. They may pose a greater risk for infants, young children, the elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems.” Please share this information with other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (i.e., people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail. If you have questions regarding this matter, you may contact Mr. James M. Stinson, PE, General Manager for MUD 47 at 855-h2o-save (855-426-7283).

IMPORTANT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: This water quality violation is currently isolated to a single residential sample location on South Copperknoll Circle near Lake Woodlands Drive. Approximately 120 other locations are sampled in The Woodlands each month and none have tested positive for E. coli. Following the positive test results, additional residences located upstream and downstream of the South Copperknoll Circle location were tested and all came back with clean results. All sample locations in the main distribution system have also received clean test results. MUD 47 is now conducting additional testing in the South Copperknoll Circle neighborhood to confirm no other homes in the area are impacted and results are expected by tomorrow morning (Friday, February 23, 2018). At this time, the violation does not indicate a widespread concern for water quality.

An investigation is also underway to identify the cause of the positive test results at the South Copperknoll Circle sample location (a hose bibb connection on the side of the house is used to take samples).

Examples of possible causes include:
o A failed irrigation system backflow preventer;
o A failed vacuum breaker on a hose bibb;
o A recent plumbing repair or renovation at the location;
o A recent line break at the location;
o Contamination of the hose bibb itself; and/or
o Faulty sampling or testing procedures.

The homeowners at the South Copperknoll Circle sample location are aware of the issue and are fully cooperating with MUD 47 to identify the cause of the positive test results and resolve the issue. Additional information regarding the results of the investigation will be provided as soon as it is available.

Source: The Woodlands Township and Jim Stinson, WJPA