Wednesday night officials in Corpus Christi released a citywide advisory to discontinue all use of tap water. Schools have shut down and lines are snaking around supermarkets and local stores as the more than 300,000 residents of the gulf coast city stock up on bottled water.
The contamination involves an unknown chemical and is possibly caused by a back-flow incident in the city’s industrial district. The advisory is not a standard boil water notice – freezing, boiling or filtering water will not be enough, residents and guests should only use bottled water.
Tim Archuleta, editor of the Corpus Christi Caller-Times, says the city has a lot of questions about the safety of its water right now.
The city received a call about discoloration in water from a caller in the downtown area late Wednesday afternoon. The city then began to investigate the situation. State officials are also getting involved.
“They aren’t sure if there is a chemical substance in the water so they’re trying to be very, very cautious and are telling residents, visitors do not use the tap water at all,” Archuleta says.
As of Thursday morning, no injuries have been reported due to the contaminated water, but people are worried.
“It’s having a dramatic impact on the community,” Archuleta says. “You’re talking about school beings closed. It’s going to make it difficult for businesses to open this morning. You’re talking about just general concern for families that are waking up this morning and learning that their drinking water – their tap water cannot be used.”
Officials will release updates on the water contamination throughout Thursday.
Post by Beth Cortez-Neavel.