Alamo drinking water warning lifted following precautionary testing

The drinking water warning issued Aug. 13 for customers of the Alamo Sewer and Water GID was officially lifted Aug. 17 after test results confirmed E. coli and other coliform bacteria were not present in the system.

The warning was issued after a six-inch water main at Purple Sage and Broadway broke, resulting in a system-wide loss of pressure.

Trevor Laird, an official with Alamo Sewer and Water GID, emphasized that the warning was strictly precautionary. There was no indication that the community’s drinking water had been contaminated.

Laird shared that when a water system experiences a loss of pressure, there is a possibility that contaminants from outside the system could be drawn into water lines. Because the water quality was temporarily unknown following the break, the district issued the warning and advised residents to boil their water while awaiting test results.

Laird said the district’s responsibility is to provide safe drinking water to the community at all times. Although crews were fairly confident no contamination had entered the system, the district chose to take every precaution rather than make that assumption without testing.

After repairing the broken main, crews disinfected the new lines and flushed the system. The warning remained in place until testing could confirm the water was safe.

Five samples were collected Aug. 14, and another five Aug. 15. Testing for Escherichia coli, commonly known as E. coli, and total coliform bacteria found both absent. Following those results, the district officially lifted the warning Aug. 17.

The incident brought attention to work that often happens quietly behind the scenes to keep essential services operating.

Laird noted that water and sewer services are something most people may not think about until a line breaks or service is interrupted. When an incident does occur, however, district personnel have an important responsibility to respond professionally and take the precautions necessary to protect residents.

The Alamo Water and Sewer crew worked long hours through rainy, dark conditions to repair the break and restore the system, while community members stepped forward to assist wherever they could.

Laird expressed appreciation to the community for the outpouring of help and equipment during the response, with special thanks to the Christian family, the telephone company and Tony Steele for providing assistance and equipment when it was needed.

Neighbors and friends also came together to lend a hand, turning an unexpected water emergency into a community effort.

With testing complete and the warning lifted, residents have resumed normal use of the Alamo Sewer and Water system.