Texas city declares disaster after brain-eating amoeba found in tap water
Officials in the city of Lake Jackson, Texas, issued a disaster declaration on Saturday in response to drinking water contaminated with a brain-eating amoeba. The city is under a “do not use water order,” and has requested an emergency declaration from the state.
“The City of Lake Jackson, County of Brazoria, Texas, is facing significant threats to life, health and property due to contaminated drinking water,” the city said in its emergency request to Governor Greg Abbott. “The impact of this threat is severe. The potential damages include: sickness and death.”
Mayor Bob Sipple wrote that the incident “is of such severity and magnitude” that the city cannot control the threat on its own.
#BREAKING: city of @LakeJacksonTX issues a disaster declaration after a brain-eating amoeba is detected in its water system. Right now, a DO NOT USE WATER advisory has been issued for Lake Jackson. #khou11
— David Gonzalez (@DavidGonzKHOU) September 26, 2020
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality warned the Brazosport Water Authority late Friday of the potential contamination of its water supply by Naegleria fowleri.