Monday, April 27, 2015

FORCE MAIN PIPELINE FAILURE CAUSES 1.5 MILLION GALLON DOMESTIC WASTEWATER SPILL IN ABILENE, TEXAS










APRIL 27, 2015

ABILENE, TEXAS

A 1.5 million gallon spill of raw sewer water, also known as domestic wastewater, was discovered Sunday morning.

The city of Abilene has just distirbuted this news release.

Abilene Area Residents May Be Impacted by Domestic Wastewater Spill
ABILENE, Texas – The City of Abilene Water Department has experienced a spill of domestic wastewater from the City’s wastewater collection system. City personnel and contractors worked diligently to resolve the problem. The spill occurred approximately one half mile west of Jones County road CR 311 and approximately one half mile north of Jones County CR 306. 

The area of the spill is cultivated agricultural farm land. The spill site is approximately one half mile south of Deadman Creek. The spill was discovered on April 26, 2015 at about 8:15 a.m. The estimated spill volume is about 1.5 million gallons. The spill occurred due to a failure of the sewer force-main pipeline. City personnel have contained the spill and initiated cleanup activities as necessary.

City personnel have notified the appropriate local government officials and the TCEQ Region 3 office.

Persons using private drinking water supply wells located within one 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 should have their well water tested and disinfected, if necessary, prior to discontinuing distillation or boiling.
The water supplied by the City of Abilene, whether directly through your faucet or provided to a wholesale customer, is safe to drink and may be used for personal use.

The public should avoid contact with the 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.

Although there was a spill of domestic wastewater in the general vicinity of Deadman Creek, the Abilene water supply has not been impacted, it is appropriately monitored, and your drinking water from Lake Fort Phantom Hill and other area lakes receives complete treatment at the City’s water treatment plants and is safe to consume. We assure our water customers that all water treated by the Abilene Water Department receives complete treatment in accordance with state and federal regulations and meets the Primary Drinking Water Standards, as established by the EPA.