Wastewater reached East Amarillo Creek and may be flowing toward Thompson Park Lake
City crews are repairing a sewer main after an estimated 750,000 gallons of untreated wastewater spilled near East Amarillo Creek on Friday, prompting officials to advise residents to temporarily avoid recreational activity in the creek and Thompson Park Lake.
The unauthorized discharge occurred at a manhole immediately east of East Amarillo Creek between West Chaparral Road and East Chaparral Road, according to information released by the City of Amarillo.
The City of Amarillo Water Utilities Department was notified of the discharge at 11:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 11, and crews were immediately sent to the site. Workers stopped the discharge at 3:25 p.m., but repairs to the sewer main remained underway.
Wastewater reached East Amarillo Creek and may be flowing toward Thompson Park Lake. Laboratory testing will be conducted to determine whether contamination is present and to monitor possible environmental impacts from the spill.
Because wastewater entered the creek, officials are advising the public to temporarily avoid recreational contact with Thompson Park Lake and East Amarillo Creek between West Chaparral Road and West Hastings Avenue.
That advisory includes activities such as fishing, kayaking, paddling and wading.
Site remediation has already begun, and the area where repairs are taking place has been barricaded for public safety. Laboratory samples will be collected routinely after repairs are completed to monitor the area for environmental impacts.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has been notified of the spill. City of Amarillo Wastewater Collections personnel are conducting the remediation efforts.
