December 26, 2022
Update 7am Monday:
Valves are open.
The plan right now is to keep them open until 10am and hunt for leaks, then let it replenish over the afternoon and give everyone a chance to fix leaks found.
Back on from 5-8pm then replenish overnight.
Obviously If we find and get enough leaks fixed or isolated, plans will change.
December 25, 2022
Update 9:30 pm Sunday:
We shut the system down for the evening at 9, and we didn’t completely run out of water this time!
Because there is still some in the tank, we’ll start the morning in a better place, and the pressures at the plant should have finished recovering.
The plan for tomorrow has not changed:
Water on: 7:00 AM
Water off: 10:00 AM
Water on: 5:00 PM
Water off: 8:00 PM
We’ll be out actively hunting leaks after we turn it on.
As always, thank you for your patience and understanding.
We’ll see you in the morning!
December 25, 2022
5:00 PM Sunday Update:
The storage tank has recovered approximately 3 feet since shutting down earlier today.
We will be turning water back at 7:00 this evening and running till 9:00 or until the water supply runs out.
Tomorrow we will observe the following schedule.
Water on: 7:00 AM
Water off: 10:00 AM
Water on: 5:00 PM
Water off: 8:00 PM
Hopefully, Tuesday we’ll be able to follow a more normal schedule as people find and fix leaks and the need to use water to prevent frozen pipes.
Please remember we are still under a Boil Water Notice until further notice. We anticipate rescinding that notice by mid-week.
December 25, 2022
Update 10:45 am Sunday:
We hope you’re having a very Merry Christmas with your families.
Water has been on since 8 am, but because we ended last night empty, it was only able to replenish about 40% by this morning. And on top of that, the draw on the system has increased yet again.
At the current draw, we’re projecting that we will run out of water again around 11:30 am.
If you find some time during your Christmas celebrations, please check your property again for leaks. If your neighbors are not on facebook, please let them know that we’re asking everyone to be on the lookout for leaks. A BIG thank you to those of you that have been vigilant and caught and fixed leaks so far.
Here’s how to check: turn off everything in your home that uses water and then look at the leak detector on your meter to see if any water is still flowing.
Leaks on water mains are unlikely because they’re buried and therefore insulated, but if you see any suspicious looking wet areas or running water on the ground, please let us know as quickly as you can.
Assuming we do run out at 11:30, we will try and let the tanks refill over the afternoon so that we can open them back up for a few hours this evening. Likely from 6-8pm or until they’re empty again. As we get closer to 6 we will know more.
Then Monday morning we will start the hunt for leaks again.
We will get through this together, and soon we will have upgrades to help prevent this in the future.
Thank you again.
December 24, 2022
Update 8:10pm:
The water has run out, and we’ve shut the system down for the night.
We’re going to have it back on in the morning at 8am sharp, but we’re ending the day today with significantly less than yesterday.
The thaw that happened this afternoon almost doubled the draw on the system and we’re still seeing that draw now despite several of you finding leaks and fixing them, and our crews also fixing one service line leak and finding several customer side leaks and turning meters off.
It’s going to be a scramble in the morning to find all the additional leaks that this draw on the system would indicate.
If we’re unable to locate a significant number of them quickly, we will likely be out of water again midday tomorrow.
We very much appreciate any help you all can provide in checking your properties for leaks again in the morning after the water is back on.
Thank you all again.
Have a Merry Christmas!
We’ll be back in the morning.
December 24, 2022
Update 4:50 Saturday:
The leak on Sherwood is repaired and the system is turned back on. We’re still seeing more going out than we have coming in.
The plan right now is to let the system run until it’s out of water, or until 9 pm, whichever comes first.
We will continue hunting leaks in the meantime, and we will have it back on at 8 am tomorrow.
I’m sure you’re tired of hearing it by now, but it remains true:
We apologize for the inconvenience, and we appreciate your patience, your understanding, and your willingness to actively help us as we work through to get through this.
You’re a great group and we’re proud to be associated with you.
December 24, 2022
Extreme Winter Weather Update 8am:
The system has been turned back on as of 8am.
The ground storage tanks recovered to 90% full while it was off, and our crews will be out in the system today looking for any potential leaks.
If you notice a leak please notify us as quickly as you can.
A boil water notice will remain in effect for the duration of this extreme cold weather.
We apologize again for the inconvenience and thank you for your understanding and patience.
December 23, 2022
December 23, 2022
To: Prairie Grove Utilities Customers (Public Water System ID # 0030027)
Subject: BOIL WATER NOTIFICATION
Due to low water pressures in the water distribution system, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has required the Prairie Grove Utilities public water system (PWS ID Number 0030027) 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, Prairie Grove Utilities officials will notify customers that the water is safe for drinking or human consumption purposes. Once the boil water notice is no longer in effect, Prairie Grove Utilities will issue a notice to customers that rescinds the boil water notice in a manner similar to this notice.
If you have questions regarding this matter you may contact Mr. Chris Key, P.E., Operations Division Manager, Angelina & Neches River Authority at (936) 632-7795 or (800) 282-5634.
If you wish to contact TCEQ, you may call 512-239-4691.
December 23, 2022
Extreme Winter Weather Update 9pm:
As of 9pm Friday we’ve turned the system off for the night to allow the system to replenish and try to avoid daytime outages for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We will turn it back on at 8am promptly.
The Diboll interconnect will remain open for the duration, but it has historically provided only minimal pressures for homes very close the the intersection of FM 1818 and Gossett.
When we turn the system back on, there will be a boil water notice because of the low pressures that will be happening while it’s off. We will not plan to perform the testing needed to lift the boil water notice until after we’re fully past this extreme weather.
As always, we apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience and understanding.
We will see you in the morning!
December 23, 2022
Extreme Winter Weather 6:15 p.m. Update for Prairie Grove Utilities Customers:
As of this post, it is clear that there won’t be enough water supply to last through the night.
We will be shutting down the water system at 9:00 p.m. tonight.
We are doing this tonight so that when we turn water back on in the morning, there will be enough water supply to make it through until the thaw out that will occur after lunch tomorrow.
In essence, we are making this decision tonight so that we can better control the timing of outage. Our goal is that in doing this tonight, we can avoid an outage on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
We apologize for this inconvenience, but as always, thank you for your understanding!