Water Shortage: 7 Million Texans Force to Boil Water Amid Snowstorm

Amidst the on-going power crisis that millions of Texans are facing, another concern rises to add up to the list of problems caused by the extreme winter condition - a water shortage.

Since the deadly winter storm ravaging the state forced pipes to burst and treatment plants to back up, destroying utilities and contaminating supplies, millions of Texans face water shortages.

(Photo : Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Before drinking it, Texans were notified to boil tap water after days of extreme low temperatures destroyed utility lines, triggered blackouts, and frozen water pipes.

Water Shortage

In the wake of the deadly winter storm, millions across the U.S. were left without electricity or heat as service teams worked to restore power this week before another blast of snow and ice. In more than 140 counties, nearly 600 public water systems reported delays in operation, affecting almost 12 million people on Wednesday night. A spokeswoman for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality told the Texas Tribune.

On MSNBC, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said that much of her city, which includes Houston, is under a water boil notice, "but they don't have power to boil the water."

After Austin's main water treatment plant lost electricity and water quality dropped, a citywide boil water warning was released late Wednesday.

Related Article: "Freeze-off": Texas Intense Snowstorm Froze Power Supplies

Hospitals In Trouble

Hospitals have been among those dealing with damage to water sources in Austin and Houston. After losing water pressure, one hospital had to move some of its most-in-need patients to other hospitals and discharge others, disrupting its heating system.

According to David Huffstutler, CEO of Austin's St David's HealthCare, in a tweet, to have water for the patients, staff, and hospital operations, they collaborate with their supply chain. Last week, they started supplementing their on-site water inventory, and supplies continue to arrive.

The water system disruption comes after the intense storms caused by widespread blackouts as it wreaked havoc on the power grid and utilities of the state. On Thursday morning, half a million people remained without electricity.

Since lines have frozen, water pressure has dropped across the state, and many people are leaving faucets dripping in hopes of stopping pipes from freezing, said Toby Baker, executive director of the Texas Environmental Quality Board. Greg Abbott, the governor of the state, encouraged people, if necessary, to cut off water to their homes to avoid further pipes being broken and maintain pressure in municipal services.

White House Relief

The White House said Wednesday that Texas has been supplied with generators by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and plans to bring fuel into the state to ensure the sustained delivery of backup power to essential vital facilities, including hospitals. Press Secretary Jen Psaki said FEMA was distributing water and blankets to Texas as well.

Incoming Storm

The National Weather Service said another big winter storm is forecast to track across Friday from the Lower Mississippi Valley into the mid-Atlantic and Northeast, carrying more heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain to further hinder recovery efforts.

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