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Many residents across North Texas are under orders from their cities to boil or conserve water after this week’s record-setting low temperatures froze equipment and caused power outages that knocked treatment and pumping facilities offline.
Residents are told to boil water or use bottled water for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth and washing hands, as well as for their pets.
“The water should be brought to a vigorous rolling boil and then boiled for two minutes” before cooling, said officials in Fort Worth, where residents in western parts of the city were under the notice, but Fort Worth Water customers in the northern areas were told to resume using their water Friday.
The city said the water in your pipes is safe, and there is no need to “flush the lines” or run additional water through your pipes.
If you live in a surrounding city, officials said to seek direction from your utility on when your notice is lifted. Cities will update their websites and notify residents when their water is safe to consume.
Children, elderly people and people with weakened immune systems are especially vulnerable to harmful bacteria that may be in untreated water, according to the city.
Here’s the water status in affected cities, as well as a list of places to get free water.
Boil water notices
Collin County
Dallas County
- Mesquite
- University Park, including the Southern Methodist University campus
Tarrant County
- Aledo
- Arlington
- Benbrook
- Dalworthington Gardens
- Parts of Fort Worth west of Montgomery Street (order in north Fort Worth has been rescinded)
- Haslet
- Keller
- Kennedale
- Lake Worth
- Northlake
- North Richland Hills
- Roanoke
- Saginaw
- Southlake
- Trophy Club
- Westlake
- Westover Hills
- White Settlement
Denton County
- Denton
- Lewisville (some residents)
Requests to conserve water
- Cities in the North Texas Water Municipal District: Allen, Farmersville, Forney, Frisco, Garland, McKinney, Mesquite, Princeton, Plano, Richardson, Rockwall, Royse City and Wylie
- Dallas
- Grand Prairie
- Irving
Where to get free water
- Natural Grocers locations in Texas are giving away two gallons of water to each customer for free, after which it’s 25 cents per gallon. It was initially five, but the chain decreased it to two gallons to make sure its machines could produce the amount of water that matches the need. Customers need to bring their own receptacles and can check here for adjusted store hours.
Collin County
McKinney libraries have limited bottled water to distribute to residents without it Friday until supplies run out. Residents may also bring containers to collect free-flowing water at each location until 5 p.m.
- Roy & Helen Hall, 101 E. Hunt St. Small containers only.
- John & Judy Gay, 6861 W. Eldorado Pkwy. Large containers allowed.
Tarrant County
Burger’s Lake in Fort Worth has attached a hose to its spring to give people water, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.
To assist residents who are without water, the following locations will have water available Saturday. Most will distribute bottled water. Some require that you bring your own container.
Station 25, 3801 North Main St., 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. (bring your own container)
Station 31, 4209 Longstraw Dr., 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Trinity Springs Middle School, 3550 Keller Hicks Road, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
RD Evans Community Center, 3242 Lackland Road, opens at 11 a.m.
Western Hills High School, 3600 Boston Ave. , 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Birchman Baptist Church, 9100 North Normandale St., 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Beth Eden Baptist Church, 3108 Wilbarger, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. (bring your own container)
Martin Luther King Community Center, 5565 Truman Drive, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. (bring your own container)
Greenbriar Community Center, 5200 Hemphill, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. (bring your own container)
Lake Country Christian School, 7050 Lake Country Drive, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. (bring your own container)
- Several Fort Worth breweries are offering water to residents, who should bring their own containers.
- CowTown Brewery, 1301 E Belknap St.
- Panther Island Brewing, 501 N Main St.
- Hop Fusion Ale Works, 200 E Broadway Ave.
- Wild Acre Brewing, 1734 E El Paso St.