Odessa, Texas –
Crews worked to restore water service Wednesday to the West Texas city of Odessa, whose residents have been without water this week amid scorching temperatures after an old pipe burst .
The city’s water treatment plant was back up and running around 8 a.m. Wednesday, and utility officials said it could take 12 to 14 hours for the “recharge” process, during which workers slowly replenish their water. Add water back to the system to make sure there are no more leaks.
The city’s water supply systems for 165,000 customers lost pressure or completely dried out after a 24-inch (61 cm) main line burst Monday afternoon, according to the city’s social media pages. the city’s social network.
Temperatures are forecast to hit 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) late Wednesday as Texas – like much of the US – faces extremely hot and humid conditions. And while Odessa typically sees hot weather in June, the break makes it harder to cope with this week’s heat.
Nikki Friday residents told the Associated Press that the city is providing bottled water and that people with wells are providing tap water to neighbors. She also said tanker trucks were parked around town to fill buckets with water.
“Drinking water shouldn’t be an issue,” Friday said. “We just need water to get back to our daily lives and in the community.”
The city, located about 330 miles (530 km) west of Dallas, planned to distribute water to residents at the Ector County Arena as well as provide water to nursing homes. Deputy City Manager Phillip Urrutia said water tankers have been strategically positioned around the city to respond to any fires.
“It’s an old infrastructure that we’re seeing. It’s a cast iron pipe, and so they’re often more prone to breakage than other new technologies like PVC pipes in the ground,” he said.
