TEMPLE, Texas — Thursday's storms caused nearly 125,000 gallons of sewage to overflow in Temple, but is not impacting the city's water system, according to the City of Temple.
The city said the overflow happened near 3420 Northwood Rd. around 3 a.m., impacting Bird Creek from HK Dodgen Loop to Northwood Road. It reportedly consists of storm water as of 2 p.m., the city added.
Utility crews have cleaned up and disinfected the area, as well as staged chlorine at the sources of the overflow and dechlorinated the receiving system, the city said.
Crews also determined the sources of storm water inflow. The city said that there is now a capital project that's underway to help resolve this recurring issue.
The overflow is ongoing. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has been notified.
TCEQ says folks should do the following as a precaution:
1. If you are within a half mile of the spill or within the affected area and you're using a private drinking water supply well, you should only use water that was either distilled or boiled at a rolling boil for at least one minute. If you have a private water well, you should have it tested and disinfected.
2. Contact your water supplier to determine if water is safe for use.
3. Avoid contact with the overflow
4. If you come in contact with waste material or water impacted from the spill, you should bathe and wash your clothes as soon as possible.