Just after 12 p.m. last Wednesday, parents of students in the Whitesboro Independent School District received word that schools would be releasing early due to a city water main break.
While working to dig up a sewer pipe beneath a property on Union Street, city workers had struck a water main, resulting in a massive water loss for the city.
Residents began noticing a decrease in water pressure, which (for many) resulted in complete loss of water.
According to the property owner, the sewer line was six feet underground while the waterline was just three and a half feet underground. The project included numerous challenges, including old pipes that weren’t holding up well to repair efforts, improper equipment for the task at hand and bitter cold temperatures (the external temperature was 41 degrees at the time) while workers were up to their waist in water.
Shortly after word of the water main break began to spread, a downed power line resulted in a power outage for much of Whitesboro.
Although first responders could not confirm the cause of the issue, citizens in the area believed a truck backed into a power line pole between Dennard’s and Godwin Park, snapping the pole in half and causing the loss of electricity. For many, this also meant a loss of internet.
In a public post issued by the City of Whitesboro around 12:30 p.m., the power outage was “estimated to take 4 to 5 hours to fix.”
The water and power issues not only caused schools to close early but impacted several area businesses who closed their doors until the following day. While power and water were both restored later that afternoon, around 1:30 p.m. the city issued a statement alerting residents that a boil water notice was in effect.
“Due to low water pressure the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has required the City of Whitesboro public water system to notify all customers to boil their water prior to consumption (e.g., washing hands/face, brushing teeth, drinking, etc). Children, seniors, and persons with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to harmful bacteria, and all customers should follow these directions,” the statement read.
At 9 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 24, the notice was rescinded.
