UPDATE: The line has been repaired and the water treatment plant is reconnected, but Odessa residents should not expect water to start flowing to their homes immediately, officials told news agencies. The Ector County Utility District is in the process of recharging the system, gradually adding water to lines running throughout the community, KOSA said. Recharging may take 12 hours or more and the water boiling warning will remain in effect. While residents want water to flow into their homes again, the municipality of Odessa stressed patience and attention during a press conference on Tuesday afternoon. Once the break is fixed, “we will start reactivating the system carefully to maintain the integrity of all lines,” the city said, adding that it may take another 24 hours “to ensure the water is safe and free of bacteria.” before the water boiling warning is canceled. “ The original story continues below: Anger and anxiety are rising in West Texas as thousands of residents woke up without water. The city of Odessa is trying to get the water flowing again – and to calm the worried residents – after the break of a long line, but it may take up to 48 hours until the problem is solved, stores report. A water pipeline running under the city of about 110,000 residents broke late on Monday (June 13th), Odessa officials said in a statement. The water rushed out, flooded roads and the city has stopped the flow of water, while crews are working to restore the damaged line. “However, this takes time,” the city said. Odessa is known for its high school football and oil and was the real inspiration for “Friday Night Lights”. It is about 320 miles west of Fort Worth. The water shortage comes as the city has suffered four consecutive days of three-digit heatwaves and temperatures are expected to reach 99 degrees on Tuesday 14 June and 98 on 15 June, according to the National Meteorological Service. There is also a 10 percent chance of rain on Tuesday night. It is not clear how much of the city is without water, but residents report holidays all over Odessa on social media. “We do not have water in the 92nd! Did you see this HUGE RIVER WITH WATER yesterday? “Guess it was ours,” said one resident. “Only once I was ever grateful that we at least [can] buy water to drink. Seriously, Odessa – is there ANYTHING that our city can do right? “This is crazy,” said another. Water is apparently still flowing in some homes, but the city warns the public to boil it, to rid it of possible pollutants. “I can not boil water if I do not have it,” replied one resident. Restaurants, businesses, schools and other community facilities have also been affected. The University of Texas Permian Basin has announced that its campus will remain closed until the water returns. Chik-Fil-A will not serve anyone. Summer school is temporarily canceled. The sheriff’s office is closed and the hospitals in the area can not function as planned, said the American from Odessa. “They were told it could take up to 48 hours for the water to be fully restored, which includes repairing the water line and rinsing the system,” officials told the newspaper. “The surgeries are canceled and the patients are taken to hospitals in the area.” A photo reported by the newspaper shows shoppers filling entire carts with bottled water, leaving bare shelves behind. The city is working with the Texas Department of Emergency Management to set up water distribution centers, Election Judge Hector Dustin Fawcett said in a video posted on Facebook. Fawcett said the water could be restored within hours, contrary to other officials’ comments. McClatchy News has contacted city officials for more information. This story was originally published on June 14, 2022 10:49 AM. Mitchell Willetts is a real-time news reporter covering the central US for McClatchy. He is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma and a fan of outdoor activities living in Texas.
