CITY OF BURTON EMERGENCY WATER RESTRICTIONS GO INTO EFFECT FRIDAY EVENING

  

The City of Burton has provided a timetable for this weekend when locals will need to reduce their water usage, amid state-mandated testing on the city’s new water well. 

In a notice issued to Burton water customers this (Monday) morning, Burton Mayor Karen Buck said the city’s anticipated water well testing schedule will start on Thursday at noon, when water customers are asked to not use any additional water for outside purposes, whether that be for plants, gardens or recreational activities.  All automated irrigation systems and fountains should be turned off.  Water well storage tanks will be filled, and the city’s existing water well will be paused.  At 6 p.m. Thursday, pre-tests will begin at the new well. 

On Friday at 9 a.m., the city’s water storage tanks will be re-filled and topped off as necessary throughout the day.  The city’s current well will be paused, and at 6 p.m., new well testing gets underway.  At that time, the city will move into emergency water use only for a 36-hour period. 

Only water that is stored in the city’s reserves will be available for use, so the public is urged to only use what is needed for basic daily living.  Residents are asked to not use automatic dishwashers or washing machines during the testing period.

Testing on the well will end on Sunday, and the current well will be turned back on.  The water storage tanks will also be re-filled.  The City of Burton will send “all clear” phone calls, texts and emails to water customers once it is safe to return to normal water usage.  Customers can expect additional reminder notices and updates as this weekend approaches. 

Buck said the city’s goal is to minimize usage so that its water storage tanks and the water pressure in the lines do not fall below the standards of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).  If the city’s usage is not lowered, it could trigger a required boil water notice.