A state public-interest advocacy agency has told a Texas environmental agency that it should issue an emergency order to force a small South Texas town to restore water service to its school district.
The Office of Public Interest Counsel is appointed by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to represent public interests before the commission. In a letter dated Jan. 13, it says La Villa's (VEE'-yahz) decision to shut off the water service to its school district over a billing dispute "presents an imminent and serious threat to public health and safety."
The TCEQ is scheduled to take up the issue Wednesday morning in Austin.
The city shut off the water in December. Students were supposed to return to class Monday, but without water the schools have remained closed.
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