Residents in the city of Laredo, in Texas, are being required to boil water before using it after dangerous E. coli was found in the city's water system. The order has been in effect at the border city since Oct. 10, when officials first suspected contamination.
Escherichia coli, commonly known as E. coli, is bacteria that normally lives in the intestines of healthy people and animals. Most types are harmless, but a few strains can cause severe stomach cramps, bloody diarrhea and vomiting. People can be exposed to it on a regular basis, as E. coli can live on raw vegetables, undercooked ground beef and contaminated water.
Laredo city officials announced on Oct. 14 that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality confirmed the bacteria living in at least two city tests including "one sample with high bacteria levels," according to Border Report. Mayor Victor Treviño, who is also a physician, says Laredo's E. coli problem is serious and has been warning the more than 250,000 residents not to drink the water, use it for cleaning nor let children engage with it in any activities.
Treviño advised residents of Laredo to take "every precautionary measure" until further information is known. "For now the public is advised to follow the City of Laredo's recommended guidelines in the boil water notice. We will be keeping the public informed as this information develops over time," Treviño said in a statement.
This is not the first time that residents of the border city have had to go through such a situation. For decades, Laredo has struggled to keep its water flowing through taps clean, thanks in its majority to a sewage plant across the Rio Grande, in Mexico's Nuevo Laredo, who has for years spewed sewage into the river.
The river's contamination, as well as Laredo's aging pipes, have caused multiple boil-water orders in recent years. In July 2023, a water line break caused low distribution pressure and forced residents to boil water for several days.
In February of 2022, over 125,000 residents had to boil water for two weeks after cracks were found in a 36-inch wide main water line.
But Laredo is not alone in this issue. Texas' outdated water infrastructure has also affected the city of Odessa, who had to shut its entire water system off earlier this year due to water shortages.
Treviño wants the City Council to divert all available resources to deal with the water crisis, requesting that all non-essential projects be paused or eliminated so that funds can be allocated to replace outdated water pipes.
In an interview with the Texas Tribune, Treviño said that "about 40% of the pipes are over their shelf life." Laredo's mayor also plans to ask the council to issue discounts to residents on their water bills and for the appointment of an interim executive director to lead the city's utilities department starting on Oct. 21.
While the issue gets resolved, Laredo city officials will continue to hold water distribution sites while the notice remains in effect. Treviño hopes that by identifying the affected areas, the city can begin to rescind the notice for unaffected areas of the city.
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