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.