LaredoBuzz.Com

Courtesy Isabel Sosa,

Laredo, Texas – The City of Laredo continues to address the ongoing Boil Water Notice and has made significant progress in collaboration with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). This morning, TCEQ officials met with City Management and the Utilities Department to review the situation and discuss next steps.

Samples collected by the City of Laredo have been submitted to the laboratory for testing, and the TCEQ will evaluate the results by 11:00 PM tonight. As of yesterday, tests from 60 locations across the city came back negative for contamination, a promising development. The City is optimistic that the Boil Water Notice will be lifted soon, pending further review.

During a second meeting this afternoon with the TCEQ Water Supply Division, Katherine McGlaughlin, a Natural Resources Specialist from the Response and Capacity Development Team, provided an overview of the data. Key points from the discussion included:

*Data from the plant and system looks excellent.
*Disinfection levels are very good and within optimal ranges.
*While the source of the issue remains under investigation, there is potential evidence of intrusion caused by boring activity related to fiber installation work.
*Aging iron pipes may also play a role, as they can be vulnerable to leaks and pressure issues.
*The randomness of the problem is another complicating factor, though contractor activity appears to be a unifying theme.

Ms. McGlaughlin also praised the City of Laredo’s water system, calling it “one of the best cities they have seen.” She highlighted that the Utilities Department staff is highly competent and well-versed in the necessary procedures. Furthermore, she confirmed that the quality of water produced by the city exceeds TCEQ standards, and the current issue is unrelated to the water’s quality.

“Our meeting with TCEQ was very informative and productive,” said Laredo’s Mayor Dr. Victor D. Trevino. “As Mayor it was reassuring to hear that our water production and quality met and exceeds TCEQ standards. As a result of the meeting the City will be taking additional steps to safeguard contractor sites from potential contamination of our water system, and further strengthen our collaboration with the development industry.”

The City of Laredo remains committed to ensuring the safety of its residents and will continue to provide updates as new information becomes available. We thank the community for their continued patience and cooperation during this time.

For additional information on safety guidelines, the community can visit the City of Laredo’s website at www.cityoflaredo.com, where they can also subscribe to receive newsletters via e-mail or call 3-1-1. Additionally, the Public Information Office encourages the community to follow the official social media accounts on Facebook, at City of Laredo – Government, and on Instagram @OfficialCityofLaredo.