Boil water notice issued in Richardson: Avoid using tap water

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Richardson issued a boil water order: Water is unsafe

Police advise residents not to brush their teeth, wash their hands, do the dishes, or anything that involves tap water. Police do not expect this issue to be resolved until tomorrow.

A boiling water notice was issued in Richardson on Wednesday night after monitoring equipment in a water tank malfunctioned. This caused a water tower to lose pressure for several minutes, making tap water unsafe for residents.

"This situation arose because of malfunctioning technology with the sensors, preventing us from restoring the water level to an acceptable standard," said City Manager Don Magner.

The boiling water notice requires residents to boil tap water before any use, including handwashing. 

Officials have not yet determined when the situation will be resolved but indicated it may not be safe until at least Friday. Water samples need to be collected and tested to confirm safety.

The affected area ranges from Arapaho Road in the north to Spring Valley Road in the south, and from Coit Road to U.S. Highway 75.

Richardson ISD canceled school on Thursday due to water problems. The list of schools affected includes:

  • Arapaho Classical Magnet
  • Dover Elementary School
  • Heights Elementary
  • Richardson West Junior High School
  • Richardson High School

The city is distributing bottled water to residents from 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday at the Heights Recreation Center.