WACO, TX — The City of Waco says 3.5 million gallons of domestic wastewater was discharged from the wastewater collection system following substantial rainfall and a mechanical failure.
The discharge happened around 3 a.m. on Wednesday at the construction excavation side of the new City of Waco Transfer Lift Station, located at 50 Gurley Lane. The City says no wastewater was released from the excavation side.
The discharge, totaling approximately 3,500,000 gallons of domestic wastewater, occurred at the construction excavation site of the new City of Waco Transfer Lift Station, 50 Gurley Ln. No wastewater was released from the excavation site.
The City believes substantial rainfall and a mechanical failure of a plug in place due to construction of the new lift station and piping lead to the unauthorized discharge.
This is not a boil water notice. The City is obligated to disclose this information by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The City of Waco says it has no reason to believe drinking water, distributed by the City of Waco, has been compromised or affected in any way.
People can take the following personal precautions:
- Persons using private drinking water supply wells located within ½ 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.
- 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 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.
