Heavy Rainfall Produces Wastewater Collection Line Over Flows

Irving-Heavy rainfall and severe flooding on Tuesday, March 18 caused two separate wastewater over flows from the Trinity River Authority of Texas’ Elm Fork wastewater collection system.

Wastewater lines are customarily built adjacent to streams, in this situation the Elm Fork of the Trinity River, to enable wastewater to flow by gravity to treatment facilities. When rainfall and flood water cover collection lines and manholes, water is able to enter or infiltrate into the collection lines. Over flows occur when the combined volume of wastewater and rainfall/floodwater exceed the capacity of the line.

While highly undesirable, the impact was minimized on this occasion by the volume of flood water in both the collection line and the Elm Fork of the Trinity River which ultimately receive a portion of this flow.

Over flows occurred at one location in Farmers Branch and one location in Irving.  As of 4 P.M. on March 19 the locations were continuing to over flow.  A final estimated volume will be reported to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality when the over flows stop.

The Farmers Branch location was from a junction box in the vicinity of IH-635 and Luna Road.  From approximately 2 A.M. on March 19 until 4 P.M. on March 19, an estimated total of 840,000 gallons of wastewater was released from this location.

Planning, design and construction is underway to provide additional pipeline capacity in this area.

No public drinking water supplies were threatened or contaminated by these over flows. The TCEQ requires all wastewater over flows in excess of 100,000 gallons to be reported to themselves, the public and other designated public officials.

For more information contact John Jadrosich, (817) 493-5121