Ennis ISD cancels class on Tuesday amid citywide boil water notice

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ENNIS, Texas - Ennis ISD has canceled class for a second consecutive day as the community continues to deal with water issues.

The city of Ennis has confirmed that a boil water requirement will be extended until at least Tuesday. Due to the water limitations, the district has canceled class again.

An eight-inch water main broke at the intersection of I-45 and Highway 34 Saturday night. That break triggered several others in Ennis.

Ennis boil water notice: Where to get bottled water

7 leaks last night caused a water issue that is working to get resolved. Classes are cancelled today in Ennis and officers will distribute over 76,000 bottles of water to residents.

The city says there were a total of seven water main breaks. Four of those have been repaired, but there’s no timeframe for crews to complete the remaining repairs.

One water tower had to be shut off to isolate the leak on I-45, and the second couldn't be filled due to the other leaks.

Once water pressure is restored, a sample will need to be sent to a lab to confirm it is safe to consume.

In the meantime, Ennis residents are asked to boil their water before use.

Bottled water has been given away at Fire Station No. 1 at 1700 West Lake Bardwell Drive.

Boil Water Notice

If commercially bottled water is not available, boil your tap water before using it. Boiling kills germs in the tap water that could make you sick. To kill germs, bring water to a full rolling boil for 1 minute. To avoid burns, allow boiled water to cool before you use it. NOTE: You will still need to boil tap water if it has been through a home water filter or a pitcher that filters water.

Do not use water or ice from your fridge‎

During any type of drinking water advisory, do not drink or use water from appliances connected to your water line. This includes the water and ice dispensers in your refrigerator or freezer.

Drinking and cooking

Use commercially bottled water or boiled water for drinking and to prepare and cook food.

Handwashing

In many cases, you can use tap water and soap to wash your hands during a boil water advisory.

Bathing and showering

Be careful not to swallow any water when bathing or showering. Use caution when bathing babies and young children. Consider giving them a sponge bath to reduce the chance of them swallowing water.

Brushing teeth

Brush your teeth using boiled water or commercially bottled water. Do not use tap water that you have not boiled first.

Washing dishes

If possible, use disposable plates, cups, and utensils during a boil water advisory. Sanitize all baby bottles.

Dishwashers are generally safe to use if they have a sanitizing cycle or reach a final rinse temperature of at least 150°F (66°C).

To wash dishes by hand, wash and rinse the dishes as you normally would, using hot water. In a separate basin, add 1 teaspoon of unscented household liquid bleach for each gallon of warm water. Soak the rinsed dishes in water for at least one minute. Let the dishes air dry completely before using them again.