Home / Environment / Austin Sewage Spill: 100,000 Gallons Enter Storm Drain
Austin Sewage Spill: 100,000 Gallons Enter Storm Drain
16 Sep
Summary
- Over 100,000 gallons of sewage spilled into a storm drain in Northeast Austin.
- Austin Water advises boiling water from private wells within a half-mile radius.
- This is the second significant sewage spill reported by Austin Water recently.
More than 100,000 gallons of sewage were released into a storm drain in Northeast Austin on Monday. Austin Water crews addressed the leak, which originated from two manholes and flowed into a private storm water pond. While the utility stated that the public drinking water supply was not contaminated, they issued a precautionary boil water advisory for private wells within a half-mile radius.
Residents with private wells in the affected area are urged to boil water for drinking, cooking, bathing, and brushing teeth, and to consider testing and disinfecting their wells. Austin Water has also notified the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality about the incident. This spill follows a previous release of 73,000 gallons of wastewater sludge in August, and a separate reclaimed-water main break that spilled 574,000 gallons last Thursday, highlighting ongoing challenges with the city's water infrastructure.
