Boil Water Notice for Community Public Water Systems

7/29/2023

Due to loss of pressure the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has required the City of Strawn PWS TX1820005 public water system to notify all customers north of the railroad tracks 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).

To ensure destruction of all harmful bacteria and other microbes, water for drinking, cooking, and ice making should be boiled and cooled prior to use for drinking water or human consumption purposes. The water should be brought to a vigorous rolling boil and then boiled for two minutes.

In lieu of boiling, individuals may purchase bottled water or obtain water from some other suitable source for drinking water or human consumption purposes.

When it is no longer necessary to boil the water, the public water system officials will notify customers that the water is safe for drinking water or human consumption purposes.

Once the boil water notice is no longer in effect, the public water system will issue a notice to customers that rescinds the boil water notice in a manner similar to this notice.

Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.

If you have questions concerning this matter, you may contact Danny Miller at (254) 672-5311, 118 E. Housely Street, Strawn, TX or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

2022 Consumer Confidence Report for Public Water System CITY OF STRAWN

Este reporte incluye información importante sobre el agua para tomar. Para asistencia en español, favor de llamar al telefono (254) 672-5311.

Definitions and Abbreviations

Definitions and Abbreviations

Information about your Drinking Water

The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity.

Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the EPAs Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791.

Contaminants that may be present in source water include:

-   Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.

-   Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally-occurring or result from urban storm water runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming.

-   Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban storm water runoff, and residential uses.

-   Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban storm water runoff, and septic systems.

-   Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally-occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.

In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes regulations which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. FDA regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health.

Contaminants may be found in drinking water that may cause taste, color, or odor problems. These types of problems are not necessarily causes for health concerns. For more information on taste, odor, or color of drinking water, please contact the system's business office.

You may be more vulnerable than the general population to certain microbial contaminants, such as Cryptosporidium, in drinking water. Infants, some elderly, or immunocompromised persons such as those undergoing chemotherapy for cancer; persons who have undergone organ transplants; those who are undergoing treatment with steroids; and people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, can be particularly at risk from infections. You should seek advice about drinking water from your physician or health care providers. Additional guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).

If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. We are responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but we cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

Information about Source Water

TCEQ completed an assessment of your source water, and results indicate that some of our sources are susceptible to certain contaminants. The sampling requirements for your water system is based on this susceptibility and previous sample data. Any detections of these contaminants will be found in this Consumer Confidence Report. For more information on source water assessments and protection efforts at our system contact [insert water system contact][insert phone number]

2022 Water Quality Test Results

2022

*The value in the Highest Level or Average Detected column is the highest average of all HAA5 sample results collected at a location over a year

*The value in the Highest Level or Average Detected column is the highest average of all TTHM sample results collected at a location over a year

2022

2022

*EPA considers 50 pCi/L to be the level of concern for beta particles.

                                            W              

Disinfectant Residual

A blank disinfectant residual table has been added to the CCR template, you will need to add data to the fields. Your data can be taken off the Disinfectant Level Quarterly Operating Reports (DLQOR).

Turbidity

Information Statement: Turbidity is a measurement of the cloudiness of the water caused by suspended particles. We monitor it because it is a good indicator of water quality and the effectiveness of our filtration system and disinfectants.

              Microbiological (Coliforms) Testing Results in the City of Strawn System

                 Type of Contaminant           Sample Year           Total Coliform Maximum Contaminant Level              Total Number of Positive E. Coli or Total Coliform Samples   Violation     Likely Source of Contaminant

         Coliform bacteria                   2022                         1 or more monthly samples which are total coliform positive                             0                                                                          no               Naturally present in environment

Total Organic Carbon

The percentage of Total Organic Carbon (TOC) removal was measured each month and the system met all TOC removal requirements set, unless a TOC violation is noted in the violations section.

Violations

Violations

Violations

2022 Water Loss Audit Information

       Time Period Covered by Audit                                                                                     Estimated Gallons of Water Lost During 2022                                                Comments and/or Explanations

             January to December 2022                                                                                                                  16,420,793                                                                                   Water loss was due to a number of

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 factors including flushing to maintain

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 quality, water leaks, and aging customer

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 water meters failing to register all usage.

City of Strawn

P.O. BOX 581 – 118 East Housley St.

STRAWN, TEXAS 76475

254-672-5311 – FAX 254-672-5250

e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dear Residents, Neighbors & Friends,

We are contacting you today concerning the condition of Mount Marion Cemetery.

Mount Marion Cemetery is a city owned property that, for the past 60-70 years, Strawn has been blessed with a volunteer organization that manages and maintains this sizable piece of land, the upkeep of which, is very difficult.

The Mount Marion Cemetery Association has made numerous improvements to the property over the last decade including new fencing, a new entrance, signage, trees, the cultivation of the now famous bluebonnets, as well as repairing hundreds of old, deteriorating headstones. They have been able to do this by effectively soliciting donations year after year.   This has saved the City of Strawn hundreds of thousands of dollars and countless man hours as the City does not spend any money for the upkeep of the cemetery grounds.

Unfortunately, as these improvements were made and the cemetery became a nicer property, more individuals were compelled to visit and leave many trinkets, mementos, solar lights and misplaced plastic flowers, directly on the graves. While these actions were meant as thoughtful and sentimental, they are in clear violation of city ordinances, create unnecessary work for the mowing crews and leave the cemetery grounds desecrated with blown trash, broken plastic, shattered glass & trinkets.

This cemetery is a very difficult property to maintain but with literally thousands of obstacles in the way, it has become IMPOSSIBLE to mow and we are at risk of facing higher prices and losing contractors.

Therefore, beginning June 1^st, 2023, the City of Strawn & Mount Marion Cemetery Association respectfully request that all items that are placed on graves or around headstones be voluntarily removed without delay. The city will allow for 30 days, until July 1, 2023, for these items to be removed.   After that date, all items will be removed and disposed. Moving forward, only flowers will be allowed in ONLY granite or concrete vases/urns that are placed directly and permanently on the main grave monument itself.   These can be purchased from any area monument companies such as Sterling Monuments, Brady Monuments, Butler Memorials, Moore Monuments or Rawlins Monuments.

In every Warranty Deed that was issued upon the purchase of cemetery plots, the purchaser agrees to the following “purchaser, assigns or successor, agrees to be bound by the rules and regulations adopted by the City of Strawn, or its successors“.

Everyone is required to respect these laws, ordinances and rules. No exceptions will be allowed.

We have provided a copy of the City of Strawn Ordinances (Ordinance No. 06-95, Section L, Paragraphs 1 & 2) in this letter.   We have also provided you with a copy of the Cemetery Rules that have been posted at the cemetery for the last decade.

Please share this information with your family, friends or anyone else that has family interred at Mount Marion.

Respectfully,

Danny Miller-City Administrator

City of Strawn

Ordinance No. 06-95, Section L, Paragraphs 1 & 2

1. Decorations of Plots

• Certain Ornaments Prohibited

The placing of boxes, cans, shells, toys, metal designs, ornaments, signs, cards, ads, chairs, settees, vases, glass, wood or iron cases, concrete urns, concrete benches, pictures, artificial flowers and similar articles or any articles other than the approved family memorial upon plots shall not be permitted and it so placed, the Cemetery Association reserves the right to remove same without notice to the plot owner.

• Floral Regulations

No flower receptacles may be placed on any plot, unless of metal or stone of approved size and design and in the case of burial plots, set wholly beneath the level of the lawn. The Cemetery Association shall have authority to remove all floral designs, flowers, weeds, trees, shrubs, plants, or herbage or any kind, from the Cemetery as soon as, in the judgement of the caretaker they become unsightly, dangerous, detrimental, or diseased, or when they do not conform to the standards maintained. The Cemetery Association shall not be liable for floral pieces, baskets, or frames in which or to which such floral pieces are attached, beyond the acceptance of such floral pieces for funeral services held in the Cemetery. The Cemetery Association or City of Strawn shall not n liable for lost, misplaced or broken flower vases. The Cemetery association or City of Strawn shall not be responsible for plants, herbage of any kind, or plantings damaged by the elements, thieves, vandals, or by other causes beyond its control. The Cemetery Association reserves the right to prevent the plants, or herbage of any kind.

MOUNT MARION CEMETERY RULES

(Posted throughout Cemetery since 2012)

The following rules are in place to assist in the upkeep of the grounds of the cemetery:

• Nothing may be placed on or near a grave that obstructs mowing or weed eating.
• No curbs or gravel.
• No ornaments, statues, pets, vases, fencing, edging, candles, battery or solar light sticks or devices on the ground
• No mounded graves or grave covers
• No glass containers
• No cactus may be planted
• Foot stones must be at ground level
• Grave markers must be made of metal, concrete or natural stones
• Fresh flowers left on grave must be removed after two weeks
• Flowers blow from graves will be disposed
• Please dispose of all trash or flowers in bins provided

         The upkeep of Mount Marion depends on the generosity of those who have loved ones interred here.

City of Strawn

P.O. BOX 581 – 118 East Housley St.

STRAWN, TEXAS 76475

254-672-5311 – FAX 254-672-5250

e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

City of Strawn is seeking a dual certified Animal Control Officer/Code Enforcement Officer. Strawn is a small city seeking a motivated individual that is willing to step up and take on multiple rolls. The employee could expect to spend 25% of their time on animal control duties, 25% of their time on code enforcement duties and 50% of their time on various other duties required to operate a small city.

Animal Control Officer duties:

Patrols for stray, vicious or inured animals and responds to citizen complaints, and emergency calls, such as cruelty to animal complaints, control of poisonous or dangerous animals, and takes appropriate action.

Collects license fees.

Safely and humanely captures and transports animals including those that are sick, injured or potentially dangerous.

Properly clean and maintain assigned city equipment and department vehicles in working condition.

Document field notes from investigation of pet/property owner and maintains accurate, thorough Daily Activity Log.

Writes reports accurately and thoroughly regarding any violations or incidents.

Assists with events and programs related to animal services.

Issues citations for violations of Animal Control Laws ensuring complete and accurate information is documented and testifies in court as required.

Regular and prompt attendance is an essential function of this position.

Code Enforcement duties:

Frequently contacts and corresponds with federal, state and local officials, public agencies, community and civic groups.

Prepares and presents information to City Council, civic groups and community members about code enforcement programs.

Conducts proactive property inspections; issues notices to inform citizens of violations and how to reach compliance; responds to citizen inquiries regarding violations and investigates complaints.

Ascertains property ownership information using county appraisal district websites, compiles data for monthly and annual reports.

Issues City Code citations for non-compliance as needed; tracks all violation; prepares court case files; appears and testifies in court when summoned.

Receives and investigates reports, observes any alleged violations of State and Local code and Ordinances; discusses matters with complainants, contacts the property owner; makes on-site inspections.

When not actively engaged in Animal Control duties or Code Enforcement duties, employee will work with city staff in other areas such as park maintenance, road maintenance, water line repairs or any other such duties as public works director deem necessary.

Requirements:

Knowledge of animal control equipment operations, animal care and behavior, city ordinances and state laws related to animal control and record preparation methods, practices and equipment used to maintain facilities, cleaning methods and procedures.

Tasks involved include bending, lifting, walking and carrying or using a force equal to lifting 50 pounds or heavier. Must be able to work outdoors in extreme working conditions.

Knowledge of City Health and Safety ordinances, State Health and Safety Code.

Employee must possess a valid Texas Driver’s License.

Employee must be able to attain a Basic Animal Control Officer certification from Texas Department of Health Services within 1 year of employment.

Employee must be able to attain Texas State Code Enforcement Officer Certification within 1 year of employment.

Preference given to those with experience in either animal control or code enforcement.

Pay Dependent on Experience: $15.00 to $19.00 per hour with some opportunities for overtime. City of Strawn is an equal opportunity employer. The city participates in TMRS retirement plan 6% 2-1 match. Employee will be eligible for health insurance after 30 days.

Applications may be picked up at the above address between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday-Friday. They may be returned via email or in person at the above address. You may also send in a resume to the above email address.

City of Strawn will hold a week long city wide cleanup at the end of April 2023.  This will involve up to 20 roll off trash dumpsters and a tire disposal trailer.  City personnel will be onsite to help with unloading.  These dumpsters will be located at our transfer station at 524 Palo Pinto Avenue adjacent to our waste water treatement plant.  We will accept all household garbage, construction materials and tires.  You must be a Strawn resident to participate in this event.  Please bring a copy of your water bill.  This is a Texas Commission on Environmental Quality mandated Supplemental Environmental Project funded by City of Strawn in lieu of fines.