City of Austin

AUSTIN – Austin Water will conduct a training exercise on Wednesday, October 1, from 7 a.m. until noon near the Ullrich Water Treatment Plant on Lake Austin. During this time, emergency response watercraft and personnel will be visible in the area. The exercise will simulate an oil spill approaching the plant’s raw water intakes near Tom Miller Dam. Participating agencies will practice joint emergency procedures, including a simulated tracking of the flow of contaminants, deploying floating booms and containment barriers and conducting spill recovery. No contaminants will be released into the water during this exercise.

This emergency exercise is part of Austin Water’s emergency preparedness program and builds on recommendations for improving readiness outlined in the External Review of Austin Water Quality Events conducted by The University of Texas - Center for Water and the Environment. The exercise will also include opportunities for Austin Water’s Incident Management Team to practice emergency protocols in a simulated emergency.

Austin Water is partnering with the Lower Colorado River Authority, Austin Watershed, and commercial oil and gas industry experts on this exercise. The practice drill will allow these entities to test cross-department communication and to work through the operational logistics of responding to a potential future emergency.

“This is a great opportunity for our teams to practice emergency scenarios involving a multi-agency joint response,” said Austin Water Director Shay Ralls Roalson. “These training exercises strengthen our emergency protocols and help Austin Water staff prepare for a range of contingencies, enhancing reliability and continuity of service for our customers.”