Georgetown says more than 90,000 gallons of wastewater spilled into Berry Creek

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(City of Georgetown)

GEORGETOWN, Texas - Georgetown officials said more than 90,000 gallons of wastewater was spilled into Berry Creek late last month after an equipment malfunction at the Pecan Branch Wastewater Treatment Plant.

What we know:

City officials say the malfunction happened around 2 a.m. on Jan. 28, spilling approximately 90,600 gallons of partially treated waste into Berry Creek.

The city said that water department staff responded to the plant, located on FM971 about two miles east of SH 130, at the time of the malfunction and found no signs of a discharge after fixing the malfunction.

Residents near Berry Creek notified the city on Friday of the discharge.

Berry Creek's current low flow conditions are preventing the spill from moving downstream from the site, city officials said. An environmental company has been called to clean the spill.

Is the water safe?

The spill has not impacted the city's water supply, officials said Saturday, and no action is needed by residents who get their water from the city.

What they're saying:

"Our drinking water was not affected by this incident and remains safe for consumption," Georgetown City Manager David Morgan said. "The location of this discharge was not near any public water wells or lakes used for drinking water."

The city said it will notify owners of private wells in the area and offer to disinfect the wells as a precaution.

The city shared the following precautions:

• Persons using private drinking water supply wells (not applicable to residents using the City’s water system) located within 1/2-mile of the spill 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 (not applicable to residents using the city’s water system) should have their well water tested and disinfected, if necessary, prior to discontinuing distillation or boiling. 
• Persons who purchase water from a public water supply may contact their water supply distributor to determine if the water is safe for personal use.  (NOTE: The City’s water supply is safe for consumption.)
• The public should avoid contact with waste material, soil, or water in the area potentially affected by the spill. 
• 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.

What we don't know:

The city did not specify the exact cause of the malfunction and did not say when the environmental company would arrive to clean up the spill.