Although Ira and Dunn water customers remain under a boil-water notice, the supply situation in those areas is stabilizing, officials said.
Ira Water Supply Corp. (IWSC) customers in Ira and Dunn have dealt with water problems since last Wednesday, when pressure in the main supply line from Snyder dropped below acceptable levels. The situation worsened over the weekend when customer usage emptied the IWSC storage tank in east Ira, leaving the area without water.
In the past few days, several leaks in the IWSC line have been discovered and repaired.
Rick Graham said one such leak was discovered and repaired Sunday on property he owns between Ira and Dunn.
“I went out there Sunday morning and noticed water bubbling out of the ground,” Graham said. “They came out and fixed it and the water pressure improved almost immediately.”
Since Sunday, the supply situation has gradually improved, officials said.
“The in-flow from Snyder is sufficient to keep up with out-flow to customers,” said Darryl Calley, IWSC president.
While the water volume problem appears to have been solved, quality issues remain. The loss of water pressure caused officials to issue a boil-water notice and it will remain in effect until samples are tested and approved by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality-contracted laboratory in Sweetwater.
Calley said IWSC is conducting its own tests before sending samples to the Sweetwater lab.
“We’re not going to send any samples down there until we know they’re good,” he said.
IWSC has ordered a shipment of bottled water that should arrive by mid-day today. Calley said the water will be distributed to customers from 6-8 p.m. today at the Ira Church of God. Each IWSC customer will receive two free cases of water, Calley said.