Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Opportunities in East Texas
January 9th, 2024 – Lufkin, Texas
Water Finance Exchange (WFX) and RSAH2O, in partnership with T.L.L. Temple Foundation, Communities Unlimited, and the Angelina & Neches River Authority, are hosting an invitation-only workshop, Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Opportunities in East Texas, of public and private sector leaders to discuss the needs and opportunities to support communities in need of financial and technical assistance for water and wastewater infrastructure.
This one-day workshop will focus on the water infrastructure and economic development challenges of rural communities in East Texas. We would like to extend an invitation to attend this workshop, which will be held in the Pitser Garrison Convention Center in Lufkin, Texas. The address for the event is 601 N 2nd Street, Lufkin, TX 75901.
The workshop will be on January 9th, 2024 beginning at 9:00am. A draft agenda for the workshop can be found below. Speakers and panelists will include state and federal agency officials, community representatives, and other thought leaders in the water and wastewater sectors.
This workshop will be an intimate conversation of 50-75 water sector leaders, communities seeking to address sustainable water management needs, and public officials. The informational exchange will identify primary challenges facing smaller and underserved East Texas communities, outline financing opportunities, and generate ideas for collaboration going forward.
Registration Instructions
- Click here to go to the registration page
- In the dropdown menu labeled “Workshop”, select East Texas – Lufkin, Texas – Jan. 9th, 2024
- Fill in the remaining information on the page
- Click “Send”
- You will receive further information and updates as the event gets closer
If you any other questions on the workshop, please reach out to Josh Clement, WFX’s Director of Programs and
Development, at Jclement@waterfx.org or 763-226-3461.
Monday, December 11, 2023
8:00 a.m.
Good morning Central Heights Customers:
During the repair activities last week, a failing valve was discovered. That valve is actively leaking and we’re going to have crews on site to replace it around 10 a.m. this morning.
The repair is anticipated to take less than two hours, however, as the valve replacement is being performed, customers residing along FM 698, west of CR 826, may experience lower-than-normal water pressures for short periods of time.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.
Friday, December 8, 2023
2:50 p.m.
The Boil Water Advisory that was issued Wednesday, December 6, for part of the Central Heights Water System (near FM 698 between US Highway 259 and FM 1638) has been CANCELLED.
Please see the full notice below.
BOIL WATER NOTICE RESCINDED
On December 6, 2023, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) required the Central Heights Utilities public water system (PWS ID Number TX1740008) to issue a Boil Water Notice to inform customers, individuals, or employees that due to conditions which occurred recently in the public water system, the water from this public water system was required to be boiled prior to use for drinking water or human consumption purposes.
Central Heights Utilities has taken the necessary corrective actions to restore the quality of the water distributed by Central Heights Utilities used for drinking water or human consumption purposes and has provided TCEQ with laboratory test results that indicate that the water no longer requires boiling prior to use as of December 8, 2023.
If you have questions concerning this matter, you may contact Mr. Chris Key, P.E., Executive Manager, Utilities, Angelina & Neches River Authority at (936) 632-7795 or (800) 282-5634. If you wish to contact TCEQ, you may call (512) 239-4691.
Wednesday, December 6, 2023
6:20 p.m.
BOIL WATER NOTICE for some Central Heights Water Customers
As a follow up to the water main break, a Boil Water Notice has officially been issued to customers in the affected area (see map below).
Due to low water pressures in the water distribution system for areas along FM 698 between US Highway 259 and FM 1638 (see attached map for affected area), the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has required the Central Heights Utilities public water system (PWS ID Number TX1740008) 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, Central Heights 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, Central Heights Utilities will issue a notice to customers that rescinds the boil water notice in a manner similar to this notice.
Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, 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 concerning this matter, you may contact Mr. Chris Key, P.E., Executive Manager, Utilities, Angelina & Neches River Authority at (936) 632-7795 or (800) 282-5634.
If you wish to contact TCEQ, you may call (512) 239-4691.
Wednesday, December 6, 2023
4:50 p.m.
Main Water Line Break & Boil Water Notice
Attention Central Heights Utilities Customers:
This afternoon, a utility contractor crew, not associated with ANRA, bored into a water main on FM 698 near HWY 259.
The ANRA Field Operations Team has been dispatched to begin the repair. Some customers may experience periods of low water pressure as the repair is made. We expect the repair to be made within the next few hours.
An official Boil Water Advisory will be issued shortly, but we recommend that customers immediately begin boiling water before use.
This will ONLY impact customers in the FM 698 area, indicated on the map below. Customers outside of this area do not need to boil their water.
Thank you for your patience. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to ask.
Friday, December 1, 2023
12:00 p.m.
Chlorine Smell & Low Water Pressure Issues Update:
We have confirmed that the City of Nacogdoches has resolved their chlorine issues and they have finished flushing their lines, as of this morning.
ANRA crews will be dispatched this afternoon to Central Heights to continue flushing lines within the Central Heights water system. Flushing will continue throughout the afternoon and some customers on the north end of the system may experience periods of low pressure during this time.
We anticipate seeing improvements in the chlorine smell and water pressure issues, beginning this afternoon and throughout the weekend.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us. Thank you for your patience as we work through this.
Wednesday, November 29, 2023
4:30 p.m.
Chlorine Smell & Low Water Pressure Issues
Good afternoon Central Heights Water Customers:
We have been made aware of the chlorine smell in the Central Heights distribution system today. The City of Nacogdoches has experienced problems at their surface water treatment plant located at Lake Nacogdoches. We have been in contact with them several times this afternoon. Their crews have corrected the mechanical issue they experienced and are flushing the water lines that feeds Central Heights. We have been flushing the Central Heights Water System this afternoon as well. The low pressure that some of you are experiencing is a direct result of that extensive flushing.
While there may be concerns that elevated chlorine levels are a direct public health hazard, the current levels are within the TCEQ’s guidelines for water distribution systems in the state of Texas.
As of this post, we are not sure when the City of Nacogdoches will complete their flushing of their system, but we will continue to monitor and flush the system as needed. Please continue to check for updates on this page, on our Facebook page at anratx and don’t forget that you can sign up for text notifications by texting “CHU” to 800-282-5634.
The following customer notice is required by the TCEQ as a result of the non-compliances associated with Disinfection Byproducts Monitoring. This customer notice has also been mailed directly to every active water customer of the utility.
Wednesday, November 22
5:00 p.m.
Boil Water Advisory Update:
The Boil Water Advisory for the northern part of the water system has been rescinded. You no longer need to boil your water before use.
Thank you all for your patience as we made the necessary repairs to the water leak over the past few days.
The official Rescinding of the Boil Water Advisory is below.
If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us, but please note that our office is closed on Thanksgiving Day and on Friday, after Thanksgiving.
We hope that all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday with your family and friends.
November 21, 2023
4:00 p.m. Water Leak Update
ANRA crews have completed the necessary water leak repairs to the water system and as of 3:45 p.m., water service has been restored.
The northern part of the system remains under a Boil Water Advisory, however, if required water samples come back with no contamination detected, then we anticipate lifting the Boil Water Advisory by close-of-business tomorrow – Wednesday, November 22.
The source of the water leak was a 1 ½” galvanized line that had corroded from the inside out due to it’s advanced age. As part of the repair to uncover the pipe, we had to excavate the main line running along HWY 259. In doing so, we discovered that this section of line is a 4” asbestos cement pipe that was likely installed in the 60s or 70s.
Asbestos cement pipe is extremely fragile and susceptible to breaking during soil movement. This would explain the numerous leaks in this area. This information will be incorporated into the preliminary engineering feasibility report process for the system upgrades.
Below are before and after photos of the repair. As always, thank you for your patience and if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.
