KEMPNER, Texas — Homeowners in Kempner are raising concerns about their water quality.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality issued a boil water notice for the Kempner Water Supply Corporation on Tuesday, June 25.
Kempner Water Supply says customers must boil their water before drinking, showering or brushing teeth until the boil notice is lifted.
Those who live in Kempner have reached out to 6 News saying their water is dusty and murky, despite boiling their water. For some, it's even impacting their health.
Leah and Octavio Gaitan-Diaz moved to Kempner from Los Angeles when the pandemic hit.
Leah has a rare autoimmune disease called Myasthenia Gravis. Throughout the past year, she says she's been getting better.
Recently though, Gaitan-Diaz says she started getting cramps and feeling fatigued. She believes this is because of the poor water quality in Kempner.
"What we found yesterday, it was horrifying to say the least," Octavio Gaitan-Diaz said. "For how long has this been going on before they allowed this?"
The couple has been buying gallons of water to take showers. Leah has also been using this to take her medications and supplements.
"Whatever's happening in Kemper yesterday, ain't gonna happen here anymore," Octavio Gaitan-Diaz husband said. "We're done. We're done."
The couple is using their voice to help push for action.
"Ignorance is bliss until it's not, and we're not going to be ignorant about this at all," Octavio said.
Bruce Sorenson from the Kempner Water Supply Corporation sent 6 News the following statement:
Boil water notices are required by the state. Any time we think we might have low chlorine residuals, low pressure in the system, line repair, leak that could potentially have contaminants getting in the water, etc. In our case this was because we had low pressure and low chlorine residuals in the distribution system. This occurred because a wholesale supplier was not able to supply us with compliant water due to no chlorine residual. We were not able to take the contract water, we could not produce enough water from our plant to provide water to Kempner customers and to the City of Lampasas. Tank levels got low and there were some low residuals but still chlorine in the system. We were able to get water from an emergency supplier and able to refill our tanks and bring the chlorine residuals up to state standards. The water will be tested possibly tomorrow and sent for analysis. Homeowners need to be informed and we strive to do that.
In a statement to 6 News, Kempner Mayor John Wilkerson said the City does not have "any ownership, stake or direct influence over the operational decisions" made by the Kempner Water Supply Corporation. Wilkerson also noted that they operate independently from municipal governance.
"I encourage residents to direct any specific concerns or inquiries about water services directly to KWSC," Wilkerson said to 6 News. "As a customer of KWSC, I share some of the same concerns and frustrations as many of my neighbors."
Wilkerson also said he does not intend to take the water supply corporation over, and the only avenue the City would have to do something of that sort would be to "negotiate a buy out of the KWSC, if even possible."
Wilkerson went on to say that both purchasing and repairing the infrastructure causing the issues would be a very expensive undertaking, which would also lead to "astronomically high water usage rates" for customers that are in other counties and "an extremely high tax rate for the property owners inside the City limits."
"As your elected Mayor--I have no interest in taking on a task that will do nothing to improve the situation," Wilkerson said.
For effective disinfection, the recommended boiling procedure involves bringing water to a boil for at least two minutes, then allowing it to cool before use. Alternatively, residents may choose to use bottled water or find another source for drinking water needs.
Public water system officials will notify customers when it is no longer necessary to boil the water.
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