Population impacted by Boil Water Notices in Texas, U.S. 2020

The severe weather conditions that hit Texas in February caused by storm Uri not only affected the state's electricity supply, but also water facilities. Many utilities across the state faced water pressure issues, leaving millions of residents without safe drinking water. This led to Boil Water Notices (BWN) being issued, which come into effect when unsafe water conditions arise. This means boiling water is needed for anything from washing food to brushing teeth.
Whilst the number of people impacted began to fall as the storm eventually eased and BWN's were lifted, 1,259 BWN's were still in effect as of February 22, impacting roughly 8.7 million people across the state. At this time, the number of people still affected by BWN's in Texas were highest in the counties of Bexar, Travis and Harris.