On Tuesday, Austin Water personnel at the Wildhorse Ranch Wastewater Treatment Plant in Manor discovered an unauthorized discharge of approximately 523,000 gallons of partially treated wastewater. The discharge occurred at the plant’s outfall and reached an unnamed tributary of Gilleland Creek.
The discharge has since been contained and there is no impact to fish or wildlife, officials said. Clean-up efforts are ongoing, and Austin Water has notified the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and Austin Watershed Protection to assess and remediate the site.
According to the utility, the discharge did not affect Austin’s drinking water supply. However, officials do urge precaution:
- 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 another 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 you come into contact with waste material, soil, or water potentially affected by the spill, you should bathe and wash clothes thoroughly as soon as possible .
