Sewer Line Collapses Polluting Concho River in Downtown San Angelo

 

SAN ANGELO, TX- A 24-inch sewer main running underneath Houston Harte Expressway has collapsed, causing a spill from the City of San Angelo’s sewer collection system. The sewer is currently overflowing on the north side of the loop into a storm drain and initially was making its way into the Concho River. The collapse appears to have occurred directly under the driving lanes of the Expressway near Magdalen and 6th streets.

 

The City was made aware of an issue in the area mid-morning Monday. Workers tracked the issue to the 24-inch collapse and made their primary task to stop sewage flow into the river. A berm and pumping system were constructed and installed to pump the raw sewage back into the sewer system downstream of the collapse. The rain and runoff flow received last night broke the berm, causing additional sewage to flow into the river. The total volume of sewage discharged into the river is unknown at this time. Work is being performed to repair the berm and reestablish the pumping system.

 

The sewage that made its way to the Concho River discharged behind the police station. This area could be affected, which includes private drinking water wells or river pumps near the river.

 

Local government officials and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s regional office have been notified. City crews are collecting Concho River water samples to monitor any effects. The discharge location affects only downstream areas of the City’s water treatment facility. The Concho River is currently not being utilized for drinking water.

 

Persons using private drinking water supply wells or river intakes 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.

 

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.

 

The public should avoid contact with waste material, soil or water in the area potentially affected by the spill. 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.

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Hopefully this time the State, EPA, Federal government or somebody will finally say enough is enough with San Angelo spilling sewer into the waterways and will fine the city a crippling, bank breaking fine for having crap (no pun intended) for deteriorated sewer infrastructure that has been ignored for the past 50 years just like our water lines and streets.......

Be careful what you wish for. If the State & Feds Fine the city & require immediate upgrades, our taxes will go up instantly. I don’t like what’s happened with the city, but I can’t afford further tax increases!

Good, that would be excellent if they were to even triple the tax rate. We are already like the second highest taxed city in the State of Texas and look at what we've got to show for it...... NOTHING but destroyed streets, crumbling water and sewer infrastructure (as is evident now), no big business coming to town, low wages and on and on.... Then and only then if they got hit so hard that it might bankrupt city government and they had to turn to raising taxes ( even more), maybe about 3/4 of the population that sits around complaining about all these things will finally have a DUH moment and pack their crap and leave this disaster of a town in the hands of the incompetent who currently run it........

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