ECTOR COUNTY, Texas — Update: The Ector County Utility District has restored the water stating the water being distributed for drinking or human consumption has been tested and no longer requires water to be boiled prior to Jan. 5, 2020.
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The Ector County Utility District is experiencing a major water leak. The city says they noticed the problem around 6:50 a.m. on Monday.
Tommy Ervin, ECUD president, says the leak is affecting areas around West Loop 338, just south of Kermit Highway.
“It appears to of developed a weak spot that corroded over time, aged and failed," Tom Kerr, the Utilities Department public works director, said.
Kerr says it is one of the largest impact breaks the city has experienced since 2014, affecting around 17-20,000 people.
The line that broke is the only supply line for the majority of the ECUD service area.
The City issued a boil water notice on December 31 for those impacted by the water break. Children, seniors and people with weakened immune systems should be particularly careful with harmful bacteria in the water.
Water used for drinking, cooking and ice should be brought to a vigorous rolling boil and boiled for two minutes.
Kerr says they have made an emergency line that is temporarily providing some folks in the area with a limited amount of water until the line is fixed.
In the meantime, impacted Odessans should try to reduce their usage of water to help preserve the line.
“Our crews were able to utilize another connection point but it’s a limited amount of feed," Kerr said. "So if they’ll use water for household and domestic use only that will help us get through tomorrow better.”
The parts to fix the water line have been ordered and shipped.
Crews were hoping to be able to fix the water line Tuesday afternoon or early evening, but were unable to do so. The City says they are continuing to work on the issue and explore ways to improve water pressure in the area.
As of January 1, ECUD and the city says repairs are proceeding but the boil water notice is still in place until further notice. Citizens are also asked to continue to conserve water.
Crews began the process of installing the replacement PVC pipe at the location of the leak on Thursday. Holloman Corporation and City of Odessa workers initially estimated they would be finished with the project late Thursday night.
However, the welder involved with the project was held up, delaying the estimated finish of the project to Saturday morning at the earliest according to Ervin.
One of the businesses we know that is being affected by the line is Medical Center Hospital Urgent Care on West University.
MCH say they will be closed until the line is fixed, though the other units are still open.