Parts of Montgomery Co. under boil water notice after reported break-in at plant causes power outage

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- A boil water notice was issued for parts of Montgomery County on Tuesday due to a reported power outage caused by unusual means.

Fosters Ridge residents woke up confused Tuesday morning to find nothing happened when they turned on their taps.

"At 1:30, I noticed there was no water in our house, so I thought maybe things froze, so I looked outside. Nothing seemed to be frozen," homeowner Ron Brown said.

Through community Facebook pages and emails from the municipal water district, residents learned the power loss happened after a break-in.

"Very concerning. I was shocked," homeowner Jane Trigg said.

"There was a break-in, the water plant needed to be shut down, and to be sure to boil your water when it comes back up," Brian Trigg said the email told him.

Through that email, residents were notified that thieves had broken in and stolen wiring, breakers, and other electrical equipment, causing the plant to shut down.

"What else can they break into, and how long could they put us out of water? That's a concern if you think you might be out of water for an extended period of time," Brown said.

The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office told ABC13 it is investigating the crime but shared no other details.

Residents we spoke to expressed concerns: Could these thieves have tampered with the drinking water as well?

Montgomery County Municipal Utility District No. 139 officials did not call or email us back, so ABC13 was unable to ask the question.

The water is running, though the area does remain under a boil water advisory.

SEE ALSO: What happens if you drink water, but you didn't boil it?

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is still requiring residents in the Montgomery County MUD No. 139 TX1700832 public water system to boil their water before consuming it. This includes washing your hands and face, brushing your teeth, and drinking water.

Children, seniors, and people with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to harmful bacteria, and all customers are asked to follow these directions:

• To ensure the 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.

Officials said they would notify residents when the water is safe to consume and rescind the boil water notice.

If you have any questions regarding this notice, you may contact TNG Utility at 281-350-0895.

For more news updates, follow Lileana Pearson on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.