100K gallons of wastewater go into Williamson Creek tributary segment: Austin Water

AUSTIN, Texas - Austin Water crews responded to a domestic wastewater overflow from a sanitary sewer manhole located near the 5000 block of Creek Bend Drive.

Officials say the preliminary findings show that the manhole overflowed more than 100,000 gallons of wastewater into a dry tributary segment of Williamson Creek.

The tributary is typically dry, so there were no fish present and officials say the initial investigation shows that the spill did not reach Williamson Creek.

The overflow was discovered at 11:53 a.m. on December 10.

Austin Water says the overflow was caused by debris in the line which has been removed.

Crews stopped the overflow after a few hours, at 1:47 p.m., and worked to clean and restore the site.

The overflow has not affected Austin’s drinking water supply. Officials with the Texas Commission Environmental Quality have been notified of the situation.

Austin Water officials have the following advice for those in the area of the overflow.

• 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.