(Credit: City of Austin/ Austin Water)
Austin Water discovered a sanitary sewer overflow from a manhole in a remote area of Boggy Creek near Highway 183 on Friday, Jan. 4, 2019. Crews were able to stop the overflow and make repairs to the manhole. The initial estimate based on site conditions observed at the time of the overflow indicated the overflow was minor. Upon further analysis of data from the collection system, the estimated overflow amount is > than 100,000 gallons.
The City of Austin drinking water supply is not affected. Officials with the Texas Commission Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and downstream municipalities and utility districts have been notified.
The following notification language is intended for persons using a private well as the source of their drinking water:
- 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 a 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 overflow, they should bathe and wash clothes thoroughly as soon as possible.
