Published: August 15, 2008 11:14 am            

Water main repairs continue

Some businesses closed due to situation

San Marcos — Crews went back to work this morning to repair a 12-inch water main adjacent to the East Access Road of IH-35 that ruptured Wednesday afternoon, leaving around 5,000 homes and businesses without water.

Residents in affected areas remain under a boil water notice until noon today; at which time the city should have received results from tests for bacterial contamination.

The notice was initially issued Wednesday after the break was discovered but not located.

City officials said finding the exact spot was made more difficult by the fact the rupture occurred near Willow Creek, making the discharged water hard to see.

Affected areas included Sunset Acres, Hwy. 123, Wallace Edition and Wonder World Drive on both sides of IH-35.

Although it was in the affected area, Central Texas Medical Center spokesman Clay DeStefano said it was “somewhat of a non event” for staff and patients in the facility.

DeStefano said he was alerted of the rupture around 8 p.m. Wednesday.

“At that point we had made provisions for patients for bottled water,” he said. “The Fire Department was brought in to help make sure water was going through the (air conditioning) chiller to keep the facility cool.”

He said there was bottled water throughout the hospital on Thursday as well as water in coolers with big plastic jugs.

Some restaurants near the rupture were closed on Thursday because of the water situation.

The rupture occurred about 4:30 p.m., and five hours later Mayor Susan Narvaiz issued a state of emergency and sent a request to Governor Rick Perry for additional assistance.

The break came during a time when water conservation is a high priority here. San Marcos residents are under Stage One water restrictions, including a watering schedule determined by the last digit of a household’s address.

The city’s emergency operations center was briefly activated on Wednesday night.

        

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