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What to Do in a Drinking Water Crisis

Situations when public water system (PWS) operators, owners, and staff need to act immediately.

Immediate Notification Required for Water Outage, Boil Water, Do-Not-Use, and Do-Not-Consume Notices

If any of the conditions below have occurred in your PWS, use the Immediate Notification Form to report the situation. PWSs are still required to follow all existing rules regarding issuing and rescinding a boil water notice or other advisory. If you need assistance filling out the Immediate Notification Form or to report verbally, call 833-419-0551 (toll free) or 512-424-2208.

  • Unplanned condition that has caused an outage
  • Issuance of a
    • do-not-use advisory
    • do-not-consume advisory, or
    • boil water notice (BWN)

Per Texas Health and Safety Code (THSC) subsection 341.033(i)(6) and codified in 30 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) 290.46(w).

Issuing a Boil Water Notice

If conditions in your PWS make it necessary for you to issue a BWN, the PWS must notify the BWN program, at PWSNOTICE@tceq.texas.gov, as soon as possible but no later than 24 hours with a copy of the BWN.

Typical conditions requiring a PWS to issue a BWN include:

  • Positive E. coli results
  • Acute turbidity exceedances
  • Low disinfectant residual; and
  • Water outages or pressures below 20 PSI in the distribution system.

Instructions and templates with mandatory BWN language can be found at Boil Water Notice. BWN regulations are under 290.46(q)(1) . Contact the BWN program at PWSNOTICE@tceq.texas.gov or 512-239-1069.

Find an Accredited Lab for Microbial Testing

Find an accredited lab at Microbial Testing Laboratory Map , to analyze your drinking water samples for coliform and E. coli. Always call the lab to verify their address, sample drop off hours, and prices.

E. coli MCL Violation

In the event an E. coli MCL violation,  290.109(b) Maximum contaminant levels for microbial contaminants, occurs the PWS is required to:

  • As soon as possible but no later than 24 hours after becoming aware of the E. coli MCL violation, the PWS must notify customers using the mandatory boil water notice language due to an E. coli MCL violation at Boil Water Notice,
  • Send a copy of the public notice and completed certificate of delivery to PWSNOTICE@tceq.texas.gov, and
  • As soon as possible contact the RTCR Program, 512-239-1063 or TCRDATA@tceq.texas.gov. If after hours or the TCEQ is closed, call 512-656-4853. 

Acute SWTR Violation

As soon as possible but no later than 24 hours after the acute violation occurred, the PWS is required to:

If for any reason you cannot consult with TCEQ within 24 hours of the incident, you must issue a BWN. The PWS does not need TCEQ approval to notify customers about a BWN.

For questions contact the SWTR program at 512-239-1064 or SWTR@tceq.texas.gov. 

Nitrate and Nitrite MCL Violation

In the event a nitrate or nitrite MCL violation occurs at a PWS, according to 290.106(b) MCLs for IOCs, the PWS is required to:

  • As soon as possible but no later than 24 hours after becoming aware of the nitrate or nitrite MCL violation, the PWS must notify customers using the mandatory public notice language for an MCL, SINGLE SAMPLE for NITRATE or MCL, SINGLE SAMPLE for NITRITE at TCEQ Public Notice Language for Drinking Water Compliance. The public notice template and certificate of delivery can be found under the Chemical Violations section.
  • Email a copy of the public notice and completed certificate of delivery to PWSNOTICE@tceq.texas.gov.

A safe, alternative drinking water source should be used if the PWS is exceeding the MCL for nitrate or nitrite, especially if there are babies under six months old drinking water or formula made with the water. Boiling water is not a safe option if your water has nitrate or nitrite; boiling water will increase concentrations and the health risk.

For questions, contact the Inorganics Program at 512-239-1064 or PWSCHEM@tceq.texas.gov.

Chlorine Dioxide Exceedance

If your PWS treats the drinking water with chlorine dioxide, and the chlorine dioxide sample collected daily at the entry point exceeds the maximum residual disinfectant level (MRDL) of 0.8 mg/L you must:  

After follow-up sampling, if the system has an acute MRDL violation as listed in 290.110(b)(3) and 290.110(f)(5):

  • As soon as possible but no later than 24 hours, the PWS must email DBP@tceq.texas.gov. Make the subject line “Acute Chlorine Dioxide MRDL Violation.”
  • As soon as possible but no later than 24 hours after becoming aware of the chlorine dioxide MRDL violation, the PWS must notify customers using the mandatory public notice language for an MRDL, ACUTE (CHL.DIOXIDE) at TCEQ Public Notice Language for Drinking Water Compliance. The public notice template and certificate of deliver can be found under the Other Drinking Water Rule Violations section.
  • Email a copy of the public notice and completed certificate of delivery to PWSNOTICE@tceq.texas.gov.

For questions, contact the TCEQ Chlorine Dioxide Program at 512-239-1062 or DBP@tceq.texas.gov .

Outbreak of Waterborne Disease

Whenever you become aware of a waterborne disease outbreak within your PWS, you must contact TCEQ immediately by phone:

If it is clear from the nature of the incident that a boil water notice would be appropriate, issue the notice immediately and contact us right away.

Spills That Could Affect the Environment

If you become aware of a spill that could affect the Texas environment, report it to our Regional office emergency response staff.

Other Threats to Your Customers’ Health

If any other incident arises that does or could threaten your customers’ health through the contamination or loss of your drinking water supply, contact TCEQ as soon as possible in one of these ways:

Our staff will help you assess the potential threat and determine your best course of action.