City faces emergency-level water crisis

Editor's Note: This is an updated version of the story that will appear in the Saturday, Dec. 13 print edition of the Breckenridge American.

Friday, Dec. 12 morning update from City Manager Cynthia Northrop: 

Water repair was completed yesterday, December 11th, at approximately 2:30 pm. At approximately 3:00 p.m. the City began pressuring up the system at 30 PSI. It was initially estimated that it would take three hours or longer to fully re-pressurize the system. 

However, the process is taking longer than usual, and pressure has been building slowly overnight. As of approximately 4:00 a.m. this morning, the system reached 77 PSI. The ideal operating pressure is between 88–90 PSI. Until the system reaches full-capacity, we are asking all residents to conserve water.

Please avoid showering, washing laundry, or using large amounts of water at this time
to help the system stabilize. 

We will continue distributing both drinking and non-drinking water today at Breckenridge City Park. Portable toilets will also remain available at the park throughout the day. Staff at the Water Treatment Plant were actively monitoring the system overnight and are continuing making adjustments to restore full pressure as quickly as possible. Public Works crews are flushing lines throughout the city, and City staff remain in contact with Stephens Memorial Hospital and Villa Haven to ensure homebound
residents receive the assistance they need.

As system pressure stabilizes over the weekend, we will collect required water samples on Monday for testing. Once results are received—hopefully by Tuesday—we will lift the boil water notice. Until then the boil water notice remains in effect.

If you have not had any water restored to your home at all, please send us a message through our official City of Breckenridge Facebook page so we can investigate the issue.

We would like to extend our most sincere appreciation to the Mayor, City Commissioners, City staff, community partners such as Stephens County, Breckenridge Independent School District, Stephens Memorial Hospital, the local Volunteer Fire Department, Stephens Regional Water District, surrounding communities, charitable organizations, and the many residents who came together during this time of need to support our community. This truly has been a team effort. We also want to express our deep appreciation to all City crews and contractors who worked around the clock to resolve this issue as quickly as possible. We recognize the inconvenience this situation has caused for so many, and we want to sincerely thank you for your continued patience and understanding.

Original story:

Breckenridge residents endured a city-wide water emergency this week after multiple major water line breaks left the community without access to water and prompted a local state of emergency.

Mayor Bob Sims declared the emergency Wednesday morning, Dec. 10, authorizing additional resources through the Texas Division of Emergency Management to secure potable and non-potable water supplies.

The crisis began Tuesday morning, Dec. 9 and continued through Friday, Dec. 12, when five leaks were reported across the system, according to City Manager Cynthia Northrop. That included major breaks at Wheeler, Dunnigan and Baylor and Walker and Baylor streets. Repairs were completed on Wheeler and Dunnigan/Baylor, but the Walker street line became the city’s top priority after crews discovered additional splitting further east.

During efforts to isolate the leak, officials reported that a critical valve leading from the Water Treatment Plant was found broken in the closed position. That valve, which controlled the flow of water from the plant to the city’s towers, required contractors to work around the clock to assess and repair.

By Wednesday, contractors from Raydon had expanded the dig area around the 10-foot-deep line and drained water to begin repairs, according to a report by Northrop to city officials and county partners Wednesday night. Parts sourced overnight were delivered around noon, and the city reported that the necessary water valve repairs had been thought to have been completed just past 8 p.m.

However, about an hour later, just after 9 p.m., the city reported that the water valve repair did not hold and contractors returned to the site first thing the next morning.

The city issued a formal update outlining the next steps Thursday morning. Northrop reported that contractors had returned to the site at daybreak to excavate the line again and determine why the previous repair failed.

“The first step was to ensure the repair held. It did not,” the update stated. “Crews worked through the morning to make the necessary fixes, with the city estimating that—barring any additional complications—water service could be restored by the end of the day.”

After working for several hours to determine why the repair failed, the city reported just after 2 p.m. Thursday that the repairs were officially completed and were holding.

The process of re-pressurizing the water line then began, which took many hours to complete and get pressure back to all households, continuing into Friday morning, Dec. 12.

During the process of bringing pressure back up, the city asked residents to turn on both indoor and outdoor faucets throughout the process, to help bleed less excess air from the lines and prevent potential plumbing issues as pressure was restored. They also said to turn faucets off once water began coming out in a consistent stream. 

The city also asked residents that had full pressure back to limit water usage while the system fully pressurized throughout the community. 

Once the full pressurization process completed, the city would then be able to lift the water boil notice upon getting samples returned and ensuring levels were normal. As of this writing Friday, Dec. 12, the boil water notice is still in effect.

Emergency Operations Command had also agreed to submit a State of Texas Assistance Request (STAR) for extra assistance, mainly potable water and portable showers to have on hand in case water was not restored by the end of day Thursday.

Northrop emphasized the teamwork behind the effort.

“Our city staff and field crews have been working around the clock and doing a great job,” she said. “The communication has been great with everybody, and we’ve been pulling together to get things done.”

Throughout the entire process, the city mobilized water distribution efforts beginning Wednesday, Dec, 10. By 1 p.m., the city reported that six pallets–420 cases– of bottled water had been handed out at Breckenridge City Park, exhausting the morning supply. 

Residents were limited to one case per household, while non-potable water for flushing toilets was available for those who brought their own containers. Portable toilets were also staged at the city park near the Trade Days building and at First Methodist Church. In addition, homebound residents were able to request delivery by calling the city’s non-emergency dispatch line, 254-559-2211.

By mid-afternoon Wednesday, three more pallets of bottled water were available at the city park, along with four pallets donated by the city of Clyde, being made available that evening. The American Red Cross of Wichita Falls was also en route with 33 cases of water, and United Supermarket confirmed it had bottled water in stock with an emergency truck scheduled to arrive later in the afternoon.

In total, Breckenridge Police Chief Blake Johnson reported 10 pallets had been distributed as of Wednesday evening– one case per household and two cases were distributed by the local volunteer fire departments and other volunteers to homebound residents who receive Meals on Wheels.

By Thursday morning, the city reported that 17 pallets had been distributed the previous day, primarily at the City Park and at One Church on Walker Street. Two additional pallets were reserved for homebound residents and delivered through Meals on Wheels volunteers and local fire departments. The city said it expected to have 22.5 pallets available for distribution through Thursday, including 18 pallets supplied by United Supermarket.

With the additional pallets, the combined effort was projected to reach 1,223 households. The city continued to provide water to residents through Friday as the process of returning water continued. Non-potable water continued to be provided by volunteer fire departments at multiple sites as well, including Stephens Memorial Hospital and Villa Haven, while portable toilets remained stationed at the City Park and First Methodist Church.

“We had a challenge ahead of us, because we had a significant number of folks that called in and were looking for delivery,” Johnson said. “We had volunteers from the community as well as the volunteer fire departments that came through, and our fire department was doing a lot of picking up of water, going in and out of town.”

Water tankers were also stationed at the Breckenridge Fire Department, Stephens Memorial Hospital and the city park to ensure fire protection, patient care and residential access. The Hubbard Creek Volunteer Fire Department also loaned a tanker to Breckenridge firefighters, who noted that hydrants were dry during the outage.

The emergency rippled across Breckenridge. Stephens Memorial Hospital closed all non-essential services Wednesday, Dec. 10 and Thursday, Dec. 11, though its Emergency Department remained open 24/7.

Breckenridge ISD also canceled school Wednesday after letting out at 1 p.m. Tuesday when the water situation first reared its head. Junior Buckaroo Academy had also shut down. BISD canceled school once again Thursday due to the repair not holding.

Numerous businesses also had to close due to not having water beginning Tuesday afternoon, as well as the Stephens County Courthouse and the Breckenridge Chamber of Commerce. Many restaurants closed their doors, while Alfredo’s continued to serve food from its food truck in the parking lot– as well as other restaurants with food trucks.

Meanwhile, the Breckenridge Junior High School One Act Play competition continued at Bailey Auditorium Wednesday, with portable toilets available provided by West Texas Plumbing. The Broncos performed an adaptation of “The Book of Everything.”

The Cowboy Christmas Parade scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 11 was also postponed by the Breckenridge Chamber of Commerce due to the water situation. They said in a comment on Facebook that they are going to do everything they can to make the event still happen and will announce the new date if and when one is determined.

With water service restored and pressure returning across the system, the city now awaits lab results needed to lift the boil water notice. BISD, businesses and medical facilities are preparing to resume normal operations, bringing an end to a week that tested the city’s infrastructure–and showcased the community’s ability to rally together under pressure–or lack thereof when it came to water pressure.