On Wednesday, Jan. 24 at 9:30 a.m., Austin Water crews responded to a complaint submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) that a possible Sanitary Sewer Overflow occurred near 320 Heartwood Dr. Preliminary findings indicated that over 100 gallons were spilled in the vicinity of the site reported to Austin Water.
Further investigation was conducted from Jan. 24 to Jan. 29, which determined that the sanitary sewer overflow resulted from infiltration and inflow caused by damage to an upstream manhole likely caused by heavy rains and storms the Austin area recently experienced. On Jan. 29, flow meters in the area were used to estimate the approximate volume of the inflow and infiltration. It was determined that over 800,900 gallons of rainwater from Williamson Creek entered Austin Water’s sanitary sewer system and mixed with the wastewater, triggering this public notification for the sanitary sewer overflow. The rainwater was captured in Austin Water’s sanitary sewer system and eventually flowed into the South Austin Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant.
This leak has not affected Austin’s drinking water supply. Officials with the TCEQ were notified of the situation on Jan. 25.
Austin Water officials urge:
- Persons using private drinking water supply wells located within 1/2-mile of the overflow site or within the potentially affected area should use only water that has been distilled or boiled at a rolling boil for at least one minute for all personal uses including drinking, cooking, bathing, and tooth brushing. Individuals with private water wells should have their well water tested and disinfected, if necessary, prior to discontinuing distillation or boiling.
- Persons who purchase water from another public water supply may contact their water supply distributor to determine if the water is safe for personal use.
- The public should avoid contact with waste material, soil, or water in the area potentially affected by the overflow.
- If the public comes into contact with waste material, soil, or water potentially affected by the spill, they should bathe and wash clothes thoroughly as soon as possible.
If you have any questions, please contact
Austin Water Public Information Office at [email protected]
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