Corpus Christi Mayor Dan McQueen says residents of the Texas city can now use water for drinking and bathing, ending the area’s ban due to a chemical leak this week. (Dec. 18) AP

A woman reaches for bottles of water after a recent back-flow incident in Corpus Christi, Texas’ industrial district.(Photo: Gabe Hernandez/Caller-Times)

All restrictions on the use of water in Corpus Christi, Texas, have been lifted after a four-day chemical contamination emergency, authorities announced Sunday.

The system is “full use,” Mayor Dan McQueen said.

Residents can use tap water for drinking, bathing, washing dishes and in food preparation. City officials advised residents to run their taps for two or three minutes to flush any water in the lines during the crisis.

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality issued an update following the city’s announcement.

“The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the City of Corpus Christi have concurred on the decision to lift the tap water restrictions citywide effective immediately,” the news released state.

McQueen said he could feel the pain in the community.

"I hope you guys understand and feel the emotion I have right now," he said. "This certainly isn't something the city wanted to do. It's the 18th of December. We have Christmas right around the corner. My heart goes out to everybody in our city right now. I apologize. I apologize personally."

City officials placed the city under a water use ban late Wednesday night after they learned a chemical tank containing an asphalt emulsifying agent leaked into water lines in the industrial district.

With water service now restored, the focus of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency can shift to learning who is responsible for chemicals Indulin AA-86 and hydrochloric acid, which leaked into the water system.

One big task is determining whether the contamination was confined to the water lines at the site or if the chemicals made it into the city’s water system. Authorities also are trying to determine how much of the chemical mixture leaked from the tank and when the contamination started.

Valero, which leases the property to Ergon Asphalt and Emulsions Inc., released a timeline that shows the first signs of contamination surfaced on Nov. 23.

“Valero employees at the asphalt terminal building notice brown water at a faucet. Pipes are flushed and water clears,” the timeline indicates. That was 22 days before the city issued the citywide water ban.

In a statement Saturday night, Ergon Asphalt and Emulsions Inc. confirmed there had been a backflow issue at a tank it operates. City officials believe that backflow issue led to a contamination of a private water system connected to the public water supply.

“A soap solution, which is comprised of approximately 98 percent water and 2 percent Indulin AA-86 and hydrochloric acid, back flowed into the separate water line within the Valero terminal,” the statement read.

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