Breckenridge Texan

By Tony Pilkington and Carla McKeown/Breckenridge Texan

The City of Breckenridge is facing another water crisis today, Tuesday, May 19, as a leak in a pipe on the banks of Gunsolus Creek under the bridge on East Walker Street drained the water tower on the east side of town. Many customers on that side of Breckenridge are without water as the City works to repair the leak and restore service.

A Boil Water Notice has been issued for all City of Breckenridge water customers located east of U.S. Highway 183, north and south, aka Breckenridge Avenue. (See the Boil Water Notice and map below.)

Because the busted water line was adjacent to the creek, it took the City’s Public Works department a while to find the break since the water was draining into the creek rather than running down a public street, where it would have been easier to spot.

“About 9:45 (this morning), we got a few calls that we had low water pressure, and the water tower on the east side was going down rapidly,” City Manager Cynthia Northrop said this afternoon. “And so we had all hands on deck trying to find the source, because it wasn’t readily available. It wasn’t on any street … and it took us about 30 minutes, so we found it by 10:15.”

Northrop said the east water tower drained in less than an hour, so City employees knew it had to be a 12-inch line that was leaking.

“It’s under the bridge on the north side of Walker,” she explained. “Here’s some interesting facts I’ll share with you. There was a water line replacement on Walker, and it was apparently completed in 2020. And that stopped at Front and Walker (streets), so from Front and Walker east, it’s a new PVC pipe, 12-inch. From that point to the west is still a 12-inch cast iron (pipe).”

The leak happened in the seam where the two types of pipe meet, she said.

One problem the City crews are facing is that the break is on the steep bank of the creek.

“The good news is that the leak is in the bank area, so it’s on the high end of the bank, not down in the creek,” Northrop said. “… still, it’s just a very challenging location, and … getting equipment down in there, the maneuverability of the equipment, it’s just (difficult).”

Unlike the water leak the city experienced last week, this problem was not caused by a contractor or anyone drilling in the area, Northrop said.

“This is a 12-inch cast iron, probably 100-years-old pipe. And unfortunately, the water line replacement project that was … completed in 2020 on Walker, it stopped on Front. It didn’t continue to the west, so we still have a 12-inch cast iron pipe there,” she said.

In a Facebook post, Northrop said that crews are working as quickly and safely as possible. “We are actively sourcing the materials and parts necessary to complete the repairs and restore service,” she said online. “We appreciate your patience and understanding while our crews work through these difficult conditions. Thank you for your continued support of our Public Works team.”

Northrop said some water customers between Breckenridge Avenue and Front Street have not experienced a loss of water pressure, but to be cautious, the City has issued a Boil Water Notice for every water customer east of Breckenridge Avenue. (See the notice below.)

Additionally, the City has recently issued several Boil Water Notices for an area of town west of Breckenridge High School. Northrop said that situation is due to a water line replacement project that is going on in that area; when the old pipes are removed and the new pipes are installed, a BWN is required, she said. (Click here to see the latest BWN for that area.)

Boil Water Notice

The City of Breckenridge has declared a Boil Water Notice effective Tuesday, May 19, 2026, for the east side of Breckenridge.

The Boil Water Notice affects all City of Breckenridge water customers east of U.S. Highway 183 (Breckenridge Avenue), north and south. See the map below.

According to the notice, a water line repair caused the need for the notice.

Due to the situation, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has required the City to notify all customers within the affected area to boil their water prior to consumption (e.g., washing hands/face, brushing teeth, drinking, etc). 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, you may purchase bottled water or obtain water from some other suitable source.

Children, seniors, and anyone with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to harmful bacteria, and all customers should follow these directions.

When it is no longer necessary to boil the water, City of Breckenridge 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 City will issue a notice to customers rescinding the boil water notice in a manner similar to this notice.

The City asks residents to share this information with anyone who drinks this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly. You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.

For more information, call the City Offices at 254-559-8287.

The Boil Water Notice issued on May 19, 2026, includes all City of Breckenridge water customers east of U.S. Highway 183 (Breckenridge Avenue). (Map courtesy of the City of Breckenridge)

Cutline, top photo: City of Breckenridge crews work to get to a broken water line on Tuesday, May 19. The cracked pipe was on the banks of the Gunsolus Creek in the center of town and was difficult to find since the water was draining into the creek. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)