Pump Fail Dumps 3.4M Gallons Of Chlorinated Water In Pflugerville

PFLUGERVILLE, TEXAS — City officials on Monday revealed that more than 3 million gallons of chlorinated water was released into Gilleland Creek, but crews are working closely with regulatory agencies to mitigate any resulting environmental issues.

City water operators on Monday discovered a mechanical failure of a dechlorination pump at the City of Pflugerville Gilleland Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant, which allowed some 3.4 million gallons of treated, chlorinated water to be discharged into Gilleland Creek, officials said.

City water operators conduct routine visual inspections of the plant, and estimated the mechanical failure occurred between noon on Sunday and 7:45 a.m. on Monday. "The issue was immediately repaired," officials assured in a press advisory.

Upon discovery of the discharge, city notified appropriate regulatory entities of the chlorination issue, among them the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and Texas Parks and Wildlife. Regulators' investigation into the matter are ongoing, and Gilleland Creek returned to normal chlorination levels by 1:30 p.m. on Monday, city officials said.

The exact location of spill(s) is at Gilleland Creek 15500 #B Sun Light Near Way Pflugerville, Texsa, 78691, according to city officials. Officials described the the area potentially affected encompasses the down gradient and lateral distance from spill(s) site: 1 mile downstream of Gilleland WWTP.

It's the second time in just over three years that a major spill of chlorinated water has occurred at the creek. According to information found on the City of Pflugerville website, a contractor inadvertently ruptured an 8-inch water main that caused a spill of 560,000 gallons of chlorinated water into the creek — a volume roughly a quarter the size of the most recent spill this week.

A Texas Parks and Wildlife investigation found the 2015 discharge killed about 1,575 fish, according to the website. The restitution value of the lost fish and investigation cost was calculated at the time to be $1,047, city officials reported.

In the wake of this week's spill, city officials outlined a series of precautions for those with private drinking wells in near proximity of the discharge and other residents near the chlorine spill:

• Persons using private drinking water supply wells located within ½ 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.

According to the Texas State Historical Association online handbook, Gilleland Creek rises four miles northwest of Pflugerville in northern Travis County (at 30°28' N, 97°41' W) and runs southwest for 27 miles to its mouth on the Colorado River, seven miles southeast of Austin (at 30°14' N, 97°32' W). The stream runs through Pfluger Park and Gilleland Creek Park in Pflugerville, according to the handbook.

The surrounding flat to rolling prairie is characterized by local steep slopes and clay and sandy loams that support oak, juniper, and pecan in the upper reaches of the creek and mesquite, cacti, and grasses in the lower reaches, the handbook indicates.

The Pflugerville municipal website describes Gilleland Creek as a 31-mile tributary of the Colorado River that begins northwest of Pflugerville. The creek confluence with the Colorado River is located downstream of Lady Bird Lake, the city page reads. The creek watershed is 76 square miles located in eastern Travis County, and in the Texas Blackland Prairie Ecoregion, specifically the Northern Blackland Prairie Level IV Ecoregion 32c. The cities of Austin, Round Rock, Pflugerville, and Manor are all found in the watershed boundary. Within the City of Pflugerville, jurisdiction boundaries, much of the riparian area along the creek is in public park lands.

Ironically, the Lower Colorado River Authority reports that water quality at Gilleland Creek historically has been deemed questionable. In 2004, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) determined the creek to have "impaired water quality" due to bacteria levels in excess of state standards, according to the agency's website. A so-called "Total Maximum Daily Load" study of flow and bacteria levels in the creek, conducted by LCRA and TCEQ, in 2006 showed elevated bacteria levels correlated with higher flow on the creek from storm water runoff.

Construction of the nearby State Highway 130 toll road has exacerbated those issues. The LCRA found that the creek's proximity to the roadway has made the creek more susceptible to storm water pollution and erosion.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention's Emergency Preparedness and Response unit offers a primer on chlorine, including precautions to take upon exposure to high levels of the element:

What chlorine is

• Chlorine is an element used in industry and found in some household products.
• Chlorine is sometimes in the form of a poisonous gas. Chlorine gas can be pressurized and cooled to change it into a liquid so that it can be shipped and stored. When liquid chlorine is released, it quickly turns into a gas that stays close to the ground and spreads rapidly.
• Chlorine gas can be recognized by its pungent, irritating odor, which is like the odor of bleach. The strong smell may provide adequate warning to people that they are exposed.
• Chlorine gas appears to be yellow-green in color.
• Chlorine itself is not flammable, but it can react explosively or form explosive compounds with other chemicals such as turpentine and ammonia.

Where chlorine is found and how it is used

• Chlorine is one of the most commonly manufactured chemicals in the United States. Its most important use is as a bleach in the manufacture of paper and cloth, but it is also used to make pesticides (insect killers), rubber, and solvents.
• Chlorine is used in drinking water and swimming pool water to kill harmful bacteria. It is also as used as part of the sanitation process for industrial waste and sewage.
• Household chlorine bleach can release chlorine gas if it is mixed with certain other cleaning agents.
• Chlorine was used during World War I as a choking (pulmonary) agent.

How people can be exposed to chlorine

• People’s risk for exposure depends on how close they are to the place where the chlorine was released.
• If chlorine gas is released into the air, people may be exposed through skin contact or eye contact. They also may be exposed by breathing air that contains chlorine.
• If chlorine liquid is released into water, people may be exposed by touching or drinking water that contains chlorine.
• If chlorine liquid comes into contact with food, people may be exposed by eating the contaminated food.
• Chlorine gas is heavier than air, so it would settle in low-lying areas.

How chlorine works

• The extent of poisoning caused by chlorine depends on the amount of chlorine a person is exposed to, how the person was exposed, and the length of time of the exposure.
• When chlorine gas comes into contact with moist tissues such as the eyes, throat, and lungs, an acid is produced that can damage these tissues.

Immediate signs and symptoms of chlorine exposure

• During or immediately after exposure to dangerous concentrations of chlorine, the following signs and symptoms may develop:
  • Blurred vision
  • Burning pain, redness, and blisters on the skin if exposed to gas. Skin injuries similar to frostbite can occur if it is exposed to liquid chlorine
  • Burning sensation in the nose, throat, and eyes
  • Coughing
  • Chest tightness
  • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Thesemay appear immediately if high concentrations of chlorine gas are inhaled, or they may be delayed if low concentrations of chlorine gas are inhaled.
  • Fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema) that may be delayed for a few hours
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Watery eyes
  • Wheezing
• Showing these signs or symptoms does not necessarily mean that a person has been exposed to chlorine.

What the long-term health effects are

• Long-term complications may occur after breathing in high concentrations of chlorine. Complications are more likely to be seen in people who develop severe health problems such as fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema) following the initial exposure.

How people can protect themselves, and what they should do if they are exposed to chlorine

• Leave the area where the chlorine was released and get to fresh air. Quickly moving to an area where fresh air is available is highly effective in reducing exposure to chlorine.
  • If the chlorine release was outdoors, move away from the area where the chlorine was released. Go to the highest ground possible, because chlorine is heavier than air and will sink to low-lying areas.
  • If the chlorine release was indoors, get out of the building.
• If you think you may have been exposed, remove your clothing, rapidly wash your entire body with soap and water, and get medical care as quickly as possible.
• Removing and disposing of clothing:
  • Quickly take off clothing that has liquid chlorine on it. Any clothing that has to be pulled over the head should be cut off the body instead of pulled over the head. If possible, seal the clothing in a plastic bag. Then seal the first plastic bag in a second plastic bag. Removing and sealing the clothing in this way will help protect you and other people from any chemicals that might be on your clothes.
  • If you placed your clothes in plastic bags, inform either the local or state health department or emergency personnel upon their arrival. Do not handle the plastic bags.
  • If you are helping other people remove their clothing, try to avoid touching any contaminated areas, and remove the clothing as quickly as possible.
• Washing the body:
  • As quickly as possible, wash your entire body with large amounts of soap and water. Washing with soap and water will help protect people from any chemicals on their bodies.
  • If your eyes are burning or your vision is blurred, rinse your eyes with plain water for 10 to 15 minutes. If you wear contacts, remove them before rinsing your eyes, and place them in the bags with the contaminated clothing. Do not put the contacts back in your eyes. You should dispose of them even if you do not wear disposable contacts. If you wear eyeglasses, wash them with soap and water. You can put the eyeglasses back on after you wash them.
• If you have swallowed (ingested) chlorine, do not induce vomiting or drink fluids.
• Seek medical attention right away. Consider dialing 911 and explaining what has happened.

How chlorine exposure is treated

No antidote exists for chlorine exposure. Treatment consists of removing the chlorine from the body as soon as possible and providing supportive medical care such as inhaled breathing treatments for wheezing in a hospital setting.How people can get more information about chlorine

People can contact one of the following:

• Regional poison control center: 1-800-222-1222
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • Public Response Hotline (CDC)
    • 800-CDC-INFO
    • 888-232-6348 (TTY)
  • E-mail inquiries: cdcinfo@cdc.gov
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards.

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