Word came Thursday afternoon that the City of San Augustine is under a Boil Water Notice until further notice. Water Department Superintendent Chris Anding told us an emergency burn out is taking place after the water quality dropped below standards set by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

Anding says the burnout was prompted by low chlorine residual at the point of entry, with the TCEQ requiring the city to notify customers of the need to boil their water prior to consumption.

Anding says until this issue is corrected and the water has been tested for any harmful bacteria and other microbes, water will need to be boiled before consuming. He said they’re working to have the system back to normal as quickly as possible, but until it is, and a sample is OKed by the lab, it could be several days before water for regular tap consumption is back to normal in the City of San Augustine. Anding said it could be early to the middle of next week before the green light is given.

If you have any questions, City of San Augustine residents can call city hall at 275-2121.

By the way, in an unrelated water issue in San Augustine County. Customers of the N.E.W. Water Supply are still under a boil water notice. Monday afternoon we received word that customers on Route 1 & 4 of the N.E.W. Water Supply on the North, East and West sides of the City of San Augustine would need to boil their water before consuming due to a power outage from last weekend. This notice does not include San Augustine Rural Water Supply, GM Water, Bland Lake Water or Denning Rural Water. Customers will be notified thru radio when the notice is lifted.