Heavy Rainfall Erodes Wastewater Line Out of Creek Bank

DFW Airport-Heavy rainfall and runoff has caused the failure of 20-foot section of an 18-inch wastewater pipeline adjacent to Blessing Branch Creek, a tributary of Bear Creek, located on the southern end of the DFW Airport. Airport operations will not be impacted by this failure.

Wastewater pipelines are customarily built adjacent to streams, and in this case Blessing Branch Creek, to enable wastewater to flow by gravity to treatment facilities. The extended high flood flows in this creek eroded the bank to the point where a 20-foot section collapsed into the creek bed.

The Trinity River Authority of Texas, which owns and operates this section of failed pipeline, is implementing a temporary repair and will follow up with a permanent solution.

The failed pipeline has averaged flows of 800,000 gallons per day for the past several months. The pipeline was discovered by TRA at 3 PM on July 2. By 6 PM on July 2, TRA estimates that the line would have discharged over 100,000 gallons into Blessing Branch Creek, which requires public notification. When the temporary repairs are completed, TRA will notify Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) of the total amount of wastewater flow that was discharged into the creek.

While highly undesirable, the impact was minimized by the dilution that heavy rainfall produced in Blessing Branch Creek, Bear Creek and the West Fork of the Trinity River. No public water supplies were threatened or contaminated by this pipeline failure.
 

For More Information Contact John Jadrosich, (817) 467-4343

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
Chapter 319 – General Regulations Incorporated Into Permits
Rule Log No. 99031-319-WT

Figure: 30 TAC §319.303
 

NOTICE OF SPILL FROM A WASTEWATER FACILITY
A spill from a wastewater treatment or collection facility has occurred.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE SPILL

Facility Name: Central Regional Wastewater System - Bear Creek Interceptor                    

Contact for further information:   John Jadrosich, Public Information Officer, 817/493-5121    

Location of the spill:    Southwest corner of the DFW Airport on Blessing Branch Creek       

Estimated time and date of spill:  3 P.M. on July 2, 2007                                                  

Estimated volume of the spill (number of gallons):  100,000 gallons (continuing as

of 6 P.M. July 2, 2007)                                                                                                   

Type of spill: Domestic                                                                                                   

Area potentially affected:  West Fork Trinity River                                                             

Suspected cause of spill:  Erosion of creek bank                                                              

 
THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS HAVE BEEN TAKEN:

x   Appropriate local governmental officials have been notified

x      TCEQ regional office has been notified

o     The spill has been contained

o        Increased monitoring of water supply systems has been initiated

o       The cause of the spill has been corrected

o        Clean-up activities are underway/completed

o        Other_________________________________________________________