Water Crisis, Aransas Pass – Final Release

The City has prepared the following release for the water crisis affecting Aransas Pass citywide.  

The City continues to see record-setting growth across the town. As a result of this growth, the City is working diligently with business developers entering Aransas Pass to get older business locations up to date with current codes and regulations. In doing so, the City discovered an issue that might have led to today’s water crisis affecting AP, citywide.   

As a result of new development going into Palm Plaza shopping center, city staff revealed an old anti-freeze fire suppression system used by the location formerly known as Bealls. Anti-freeze systems were commonly used when the fire suppression system looped to an exterior portion of the building. Anti-freeze kept the system from freezing up during a hard winter freeze. In addition, a backflow prevention device would be installed on the system or the business’ main water line to prevent cross-contamination. However, no such device was used during the installation of the Bealls fire suppression system.  

Upon learning this on Tuesday (6/22/2021), the City shut off water to Bealls to prevent possible cross-contamination. Out of an abundance of caution and due to water complaints by neighboring businesses, the City called in TCEQ for assistance in the investigation. The City also determined that terminating all water to Palm Plaza was essential and shut it off earlier this morning, Friday (6/25/2021).  

Upon further investigation and at the recommendation of TCEQ investigators, the City issued ban on the use of City water for potable purposes. This means that City water should not be used for cooking, bathing, brushing teeth, drinking, or using pets. City water users may still wash clothes and flush toilets but should not use the water where it runs the chance of being ingested.

The City continues to work with TCEQ to expedite the analysis of water samples collected from around the City. Water must be tested and determined to be safe from dangerous contaminants before the all-clear is given.  

The City has a plan to deliver consumable water to residents while awaiting the all-clear. We anticipate providing more details about this plan and water in the morning. Please stay tuned for more information.   

City Staff will man phones over the weekend from 7 am to 7 pm. For any questions related to this event, call 361-758-5301 and enter extension 2100.  Also, remember to sign up for our alerts and emergency information at https://police.aptx.gov/ea.

###

As with all rapidly evolving events, the information shared is subject to change or correction. When new information becomes available or a correction/update is needed, those updates will append to this original release.