WATER UPDATE

Interim repairs made to severed electrical line in West Travis County water system; irrigation system use should be curtailed for several days

For Immediate Release: January 12, 2009 10:40 PM

AUSTIN — Interim repairs were made Monday night to a severed electrical line providing power to the pumps at the West Travis County Regional Water System (in western Travis County and northern Hays County).

“We would like to thank our customers for their quick response and cooperation,” said Janet Stephenson, West Travis County Regional Manager.

Despite the restoration of power, LCRA asks customers to curtail use of irrigation systems until permanent repairs are made. That process could take several days.

The affected area includes residents in Bee Cave and other communities along Texas 71 and RR 620; and Dripping Springs, along with developments on US 290.

Around noon Monday, contractors working on an expansion of the system inadvertently cut an underground electrical cable that services the raw water intake pumps. That meant water could not be delivered to the water treatment plant, which is near the intersection of Texas 71 and Bee Caves Road. There were no injuries involved when the electrical cable was cut.

The severed line was spliced around 9:30 p.m. Monday and the pumps began filling the water storage tanks.

For more information, area residents may visit the Web site at www.lcra.org or call LCRA customer service at (512) 397-6766.