FLORESVILLE, TX – Residents of a rural Floresville neighborhood are having a problem that’s pretty hard to miss.
Their water is full of sediment. Some said it smells, others said it stains their clothes — all of them said this issue has been going on for years and they just want answers.
These are the concerns of most people living in the Arrowhead neighborhood of Floresville. They said they’ve been on a rollercoaster with their water service company Central States Water Resources, or CSWR, for close to three years.
“I’m washing my face.. I have the water obviously in my face and I just get this, the bleach smell. That’s not normal,” said Laura Koog, a homeowner in Arrowhead.
“The tone initially started off with ‘Hope we can work this out, hope the water quality improves,'” said Carrie Wilcoxson. “Two years later? Now I’m angry.”
On top of the water’s color and smell, some people in the neighborhood got a letter in their mailboxes on Sept. 25 letting them know the water tested positive for E. Coli.
A bacteria that can cause stomach pain, fever, and diarrhea.
Though the letter said the bacteria should be fixed by the 24th, the neighborhood hasn’t received confirmation it’s gone.
“What do I do with my six kids when I have them drinking water and bathing in water that I don’t know what the contaminate levels are,” said Jason Knighton.
We reached out to CSWR for that very answer.
In a statement, officials with the company said in part quote:
“All disinfection equipment at the Arrowhead water system is fully operational and has been running effectively. We continually monitor the system to ensure the water remains safe for use.”
But the homeowners said they’re calling the company’s bluff.
“I will get you a cold glass of water, and I would love for you to come to my table and sit and drink it,” Knighton said.
Residents have also reached out to state Senator Judith Zaffirini’s office.
In a statement, she said the issues in Floresville are ‘alarming’. She added that her office is working with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to get to the bottom of it.
You can find the full statements from both CSWR and TCEQ below.
Central States Water Resources – Texas
“CSWR-Texas Utility Operating Company takes water quality and customer concerns very seriously. To clarify, all disinfection equipment at the Arrowhead water system is fully operational and has been running effectively. We continually monitor the system to ensure the water remains safe for use. We understand that some residents have expressed frustration regarding water quality and the need to flush their own water lines, resulting in additional water usage. We want to clarify that we are currently assessing the situation to determine how we can mitigate this burden for customers. We are exploring options such as installing automatic flushers, which would reduce the need for residents to manually flush their lines at their own expense. Currently, our team conducts weekly flushing of the system to maintain the best water quality possible. We understand that billing concerns sometimes arise, and we review these cases carefully, working directly with impacted customers to ensure that any discrepancies are addressed fairly.”
Office of Senator JudithZaffirini
“The water contamination issues in Floresville are alarming. My staff and I have been working with TCEQ to get to the bottom of how this happened and to rectify the situation immediately. Residents need safe, clean water. The water company must be accountable for any negligence that contributed to this degradation of the water system. We are prioritizing this issue and will be helpful by any means.”
Read More: Residents, State officials call Floresville water quality issues ‘alarming’