Laredo Enters its Sixth Day of a Boil-Water Notice After E. Coli is Discovered in Water System

Laredo, a South Texas city of over 256,000 residents, has been under a citywide boil-water notice for six consecutive days following the detection of E. coli in its public water system.

Aging Infrastructure at the Heart of the Problem

City officials are working to address the crisis, which has exposed longstanding issues with outdated infrastructure. Mayor Victor Treviño, during a press conference on Tuesday, revealed that an investigation conducted with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) had traced the source of contamination to an area in central Laredo, where aging water pipes could be a major contributor.

“Unfortunately, the investigation shows this is a problem years in the making, and we are now playing catch-up,” Mayor Treviño stated. Laredo’s water crisis is one of the most severe in Texas in recent years, following a similar incident in Houston two years ago and a shutdown of the water system in Odessa earlier this year to upgrade their infrastructure.

Emergency Action and Water System Repairs

The city is moving swiftly to address the crisis, with Mayor Treviño calling for an emergency meeting of the City Council to allocate funds and resources toward replacing the aging water pipes. Nearly 40% of the city’s water pipes have surpassed their shelf life, and Treviño emphasized the urgency of diverting all available resources to resolve the issue.

Treviño is also advocating for water bill discounts for residents affected by the boil-water notice and has proposed appointing an interim executive director to oversee the city’s utilities department. Laredo City Manager Joseph Neeb, who currently manages the utilities, noted that the department has been short on engineers and has had to rely on external firms for assistance. The city has budgeted over $100 million for water and sewer repairs this year, but Neeb acknowledged that plans may need to be adjusted in light of the current crisis. “We need to focus on what needs to be done to ensure the safety and reliability of our water system,” he said.

Boil-Water Notice and Ongoing Efforts

Since the boil-water notice was issued last Thursday, Laredo residents have been warned that their tap water is unsafe for drinking, cooking, or brushing their teeth. However, the water can be used if boiled for at least one minute. As of Tuesday, follow-up water tests confirmed two positive results for E. coli in central Laredo, and another sample detected high bacterial levels on the city’s north side. Fortunately, no residents have tested positive for E. coli from drinking the contaminated water, but city officials are investigating reports of illness.

While efforts are underway to identify the exact areas affected, the city has set up water distribution sites to assist residents. Mayor Treviño remains hopeful that once the contaminated zones are confirmed, the boil-water notice can be lifted in unaffected parts of the city. However, he stressed that repairing the water system will require long-term investments in modernizing Laredo’s infrastructure to prevent future crises.