May 24, 2016
RE: Public Notice
The West Travis County Public Utility Agency (WTCPUA) commenced a second controlled treated effluent spill at its Bohls Wastewater Treatment and Spillman Treated Effluent Storage Facility at approximately 10:45 a.m. on Monday May 23, 2016. This controlled treated effluent spill event, as with the first on May 19, 2016, is due to extended heavy rainfalls that have sharply increased the quantity of treated effluent stored in its ponds, while simultaneously inhibiting the WTCPUA from disposing such treated effluent on the WTCPUA’s disposal area.
The controlled spill is located at WTCPUA’s Bohls treated effluent pond located at 12900 Bee Cave Parkway and at the Spillman Treated Effluent Storage Pond located approximately 8,000-feet northwest of the intersection of Farm to Market Road 620 and State Highway 71, in Bee Cave, Texas. The WTCPUA has taken actions to ensure that there is no threat to the health and safety of the public.
At the Bohls Facility, the WTCPUA is distributing overflows from the spill to uninhabited and undeveloped conservation lands in the City of Austin Conservatory and West Travis County MUD 5 conservation properties. At the Spillman Facility, the WTCPUA is distributing overflows from the spill on WTCPUA uninhabited easement property and onto Falconhead Golf Course property. Both of these properties are WTCPUA TLAP permitted lands. In addition, increased water quality is under constant monitoring within the spillage area. While unanticipated at this time due to the high quality of the treated effluent, the WTCPUA will initiate clean-up activities, if needed.
1) The estimated volume of the spill is anticipated to be less than 1,000,000 gallons of high quality-domestic treated effluent at each of the Bohls and Spillman Facilities. The WTCPUA advises the following precautions: Persons using private drinking water supply wells located within 1/2-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.
2) 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.
3) The public should avoid contact with waste material, soil, or water in the area potentially affected by the spill.
4) 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.
The WTCPUA has also already notified the appropriate local government officials and the TCEQ regional office of the controlled spill. The need for the controlled spill will decrease as rains subside and the WTCPUA is able to recommence disposing of treated effluent in accordance with the terms of its TLAP permit.