City of Austin

AUSTIN – Austin Water crews are responding to a domestic wastewater overflow from a public lift station located within the City of Austin at 13625 Coomer Path in Pflugerville, TX. The overflow was discovered at 9:50 a.m. Monday morning, December 22, and was stopped that morning. During the cleanup process, Austin Water discovered the full extent of the spill which has been reported to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
 
It is estimated that an equipment failure caused approximately 198,000 gallons of domestic wastewater overflow into a tributary of Gilliland Creek and extending downstream to the Cameron Road crossing. The incident led to a fish kill observed in the affected water body. Austin Water is coordinating with Austin Watershed Protection to assess environmental impacts. As a precaution, property owners bordering the creek are advised keep livestock and pets away from the affected area until restoration efforts are complete. Austin Water crews will continue cleaning and restoring the affected area until restoration is complete.

This overflow has not affected Austin’s public drinking water supply provided by Austin Water. Officials with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality have been notified of the situation.

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.

About Austin Water

Austin Water provides safe, reliable, high quality, sustainable and affordable water services that have met the community’s needs for over 100 years. Austin Water services over 1 million people in the Austin metropolitan area across more than 538 square miles. For more information visit  www.austinwater.org