Ergon: Company Helping to Get 'Water Supply Back Online' in Texas

Ergon Asphalt & Emulsion Inc., a company linked to Corpus Christi's water crisis, issued this brief statement late Thursday night:

"Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions, Inc. has been in contact with TCEQ and is working cooperatively to provide all information to ensure state officials can remedy the situation as quickly as possible. Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions, Inc. is working around the clock and is committed to providing support to assist in getting the drinking water supply back online."

The release had a dateline of Jackson, Mississippi.

Jim Temple, the company's corporate communications manager, confirmed the statement was issued by the company on Friday. He referred further questions to a Texas-based communication company in Austin.

Ergon has hired Hillco Partners, a public and government affairs consulting firm. The company provides lobbying, public policy strategy, communications services and support in regulatory circles.

HillCo is one of the most influential lobbying and crisis management firms in Texas.

Bill Miller, one of that firm's partners, said Ergon has been working to give TCEQ officials any supporting material they need to determine the scope and nature of the contamination.

“If they needed anything from us, I said let’s get it to them,” Miller said. “Our job was to get them the information. They are the ones who are going to grade the paper.”

Miller said he did not have any details about when the company learned of possible contamination of the city’s water system. The city issued a water use ban late Wednesday night for all residents.

City officials have said they found Indulin AA-86 in the water system. The chemical was mixed in a tank linked to Ergon.

“We, like any company in this situation, are desperate to get the water turned on,” he said.

He called the ordeal a “frightening situation.”

For the full report, visit the Caller-Times here.