The following is a press release by the City of Georgetown, TX
City of Georgetown Water Utility crews discovered a wastewater overflow at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 5, when City crews were investigating the Wolf Ranch lift station running above normal conditions. This led to the discovery of a major line failure of a 42-inch wastewater line, located in the south fork of the San Gabriel River, about a quarter mile west of I-35, behind the Wolf Ranch Shopping Center in Georgetown. Operators have seen signs of untreated wastewater at the immediate location and downstream of the wastewater line break.
As a result, a section of the South San Gabriel River Trail has been closed to pedestrians, and the public should avoid contact with the water through San Gabriel Park and in Blue Hole Park. An emergency crew was immediately dispatched, and emergency repairs are ongoing.
The City’s water supply remains safe for consumption, and residents whose water is supplied by the City do not need to take any action. However, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) requires the City to provide information to residents about the sewer discharge. The timeline and cause of the break have yet to be determined. The amount of untreated wastewater overflowing into the river is in excess of 100,000 gallons. The City reported the spill to the TCEQ and will continue to provide updates to TCEQ and the public as available.
“I want to reassure our water customers that our water remains safe for consumption,” City Manager David Morgan said. “Please avoid the area and river water through the San Gabriel and Blue Hole parks while we work to isolate and repair the wastewater line.”
Jan. 7 update: As of 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, crews had isolated the broken wastewater line and installed a dam in the south fork of the San Gabriel River, allowing crews to begin repair work and an investigation into the cause and damages. The same precautions outlined below remain in effect.
Jan. 8 update: As of Thursday morning, repair work on the wastewater line was nearly complete. A preliminary investigation attributes the cause of the break to the July 4 flooding and subsequent debris clean-up. Based on assessments before and after the break, the flooding caused the river channel to shift, moving a manhole and wastewater line from the riverbank to within the river channel. The flooding caused the supporting bedding material around the wastewater line to become exposed and washed out. Additionally, post-flood cleanup operations conducted by private companies involved heavy trucks and construction equipment crossing the river near where the break occurred. Combined, these factors caused excessive movement of the pipe, ultimately leading to joint separation and failure of the gravity wastewater main. The same precautions outlined below remain in effect.
In addition, the City is required to share the following precautionary statements:
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Persons using private drinking water supply wells (not applicable to residents using the City’s water system) located within a half 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.
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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. (The City’s water supply is safe for consumption.)
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The public should avoid contact with waste material, soil, or water in the area potentially affected by the spill.
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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.
For further information, please contact the Communications and Public Engagement Department at pio@georgetowntexas.gov.
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