Marlin Water Plant Failure Impacts Residents

The City of Marlin experienced leaks and extreme water pressure issues last week following the freezing weather of Winter Storm Fern.

The City of Marlin Facebook page posted frequently early in the week, explaining issues and actions taken to rectify the problems, but there have been no updates on progress since Thursday, Jan. 29. Additionally, multiple attempts to contact City Manager Jason Creacy (by email, phone call, and in-person) have received no response at time of press.

On Monday, Jan. 26, the page posted that the city’s public works team had repaired two 6” main water leaks (one on Live Oak St. and one on Easy St.). Due to the pressure reduction, a Boil Water Notice was issued until further notice.

“Due to multiple factors, water plant being down for a couple hours last night, the cold temperatures slowing the membranes flow, homes dripping facets and a few leaks in town today the town dropped below 20 psi, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has required the City of Marlin/ PWS0730002 public water system to notify all customers to boil their water prior to consumption (e.g., washing hands/face, brushing teeth, drinking, etc). Children, seniors, and persons with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to harmful bacteria, and all customers should follow these directions.”

Mayor Susan Byrd sent a letter to Governor Greg Abbott seeking issuance of proclamations for the declared disaster, stating “Marlin anticipates millions of dollars in infrastructure losses.”

On Tuesday, Jan. 27, the City of Marlin posted an explanation about the loss of water pressure.

“Due to frozen metering equipment at the water plant, production came to a halt tonight. During that time, the plant’s clear well, where treated water is stored before being pumped into town, was depleted. Repairs have been completed and production has resumed. Unfortunately, many customers have experienced a significant reduction or complete loss of water pressure. The water plant staff is currently working to replenish the clear well with water so that it can be pumped to town. This process will take several hours. We apologize for any issues or any inconvenience this has caused.”

Unfortunately, this process would actually take several days. The lack of water pressure (and in some areas, the lack of water) prompted several businesses to remain closed, and once roads were deemed safe for travel, prevented Marlin ISD from opening back up to students. School was delayed until Friday, Jan. 30.

“The plant is actively producing water; however, production volume is half of what it normally is. This is due to issues affecting the filtration and electronic communications systems at the plant. These issues have been exacerbated by the hard freeze, which has increased the density of the water being treated and pushed into town. Our staff is working tirelessly to address these issues and identify solutions that will allow us to increase water production. Most customers will experience significant pressure reductions or outages as a result of the aforementioned issues at the water plant. Unfortunately, at this time, we are unable to provide a definitive timeline for full pressure restoration.”

On Tuesday afternoon, the city posted another update.

”Firefighters from the City of Marlin Fire Department and Marlin Volunteer Fire Department are transporting water to the city’s water plant to facilitate chemical backwashing of the plant’s filtration system. Our hope is that backwashing will help increase the plant’s production volume.”

Tuesday evening, the city stated that firefighters were successful in filling the water tank for the plant’s chemical backwashing, and that the plant would keep pumping water to town until the clear well was depleted.

Wednesday morning’s update explained that production volume was 800 gallons per minute - half of its normal volume. The post further stated that “once the water plant’s holding tank (the clear well) is depleted, we must discontinue pumping water to town and focus our attention on refilling it (the clear well). This is is why pressure fluctuations are being experienced by many citizens and businesses.”

Attempts to secure a TCEQapproved mobile water treatment plant to supplement water production were outlined, as well as an “extensive search for membrane filters for our water plant.”

A request for bottled drinking water submitted to emergency management partners yielded results, with a drive through water distribution being held at 5 p.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church. All bottled water had been given away by 6:26 p.m. on Wednesday. The city thanked volunteers for assisting with the distribution.

By Thursday morning, the Marlin Water Plant was producing 1,000 gallons per minute, and elevated storage tank levels had shown slight improvement.

“We are in direct contact with a company that provides mobile water treatment facilities and are actively working to procure one to augment production. We have reached out to several vendors and manufacturers in an effort to obtain new membrane filters for the plant. Additionally, we have been in direct contact with a water plant that utilizes a similar filtration system in an effort to identify other filter suppliers... We understand that pressure may be limited or absent in some or many areas. However, we politely ask customers who do have pressure to limit their water use to essential purposes (e.g., cooking, laundry, hygiene, etc.).”

By Thursday evening, Marlin Public Works and Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) crews had successfully repaired three leaks, and the plant was maintaining the production of 1,000 gallons per minute.

“We are expecting a shipment of bottled water later this evening. Once it arrives, we will stage ten (10) full pallets in the parking area next to Fire Station 1 (101 Fortune Street). To ensure sufficient supplies, we politely ask everyone to only retrieve two (2) cases of water per household. Additional pallets will be staged at the same location once these are depleted.”

Though the water was received by the city, no further information about distribution was made publicly available. As of Monday, Feb. 2, water pressure was still low for many residents, and the Boil Notice is still in effect.