Round Rock Edition | April 2022

ENVIRONMENT Search for source of excess stormwater inowcontinues

WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT

BY BROOKE SJOBERG

This was unchanged as of late March, according to Thane, who said excess inow is causing its wastewater plant to emit more total suspended solids, or sewage, than it is permitted to by the Texas Commis- sion on Environmental Quality into Brushy Creek. Since early March, both TCEQ and city testing data have determined the water in the creek to be unsafe for public recreational use, and signs have been placed at public access points. Since ocials went public with the news in early March, Round Rock residents have been openly question- ing whether the TCEQ requirements were strict enough to prevent excess sewage frommaking its way into the creek. The news has also compounded residents’ existing concerns regard- ing the cleanliness of Brushy Creek. Homeowners living close to the creek said they avoid bringing chil- dren or pets there because they have noticed a visible change in the water quality since February 2021. During a March 10 City Council “WEWILL CONTINUE TODOWHATEVER IT TAKES ONOUR PLANT’S OPERATIONUNTIL WE CAN FIGURE OUT WHERE THIS INFLOW IS COMING FROM.” MICHAEL THANE, DIRECTOR OF UTILITIES

Round Rock ocials have still not identied the source of excess waste- water inow that is overwhelming city facilities and entering Brushy Creek. Crews have been working since March 4 to locate the source of what they describe as several million gallons of additional wastewater per day owing into its treatment plant. The plant is rated for 25 million gallons per day, or MGD, but more than 33 MGD have been consistently owing into the plant, according to city data. Despite continuing eorts, the Round Rock Utilities Department has not yet found a denitive break in regional wastewater lines, department Director Michael Thane said during a March 10 City Council meeting. “Looking at it today, it is still not where we wanted to be, but the plant is looking a lot better with all the modications we are making,” Thane said March 10. “We will continue to do whatever it takes on our plant’s operation until we can gure out where this inow is coming from.”

COURTESY CITY OF ROUND ROCK

FINDING THE SOURCE Recent increases in intake have pushed the Brushy Creek Regional Utility Authority’s Regional Wastewater System Treatment Plant past its daily capacity. The city is working to nd the source of the increased inow.

meeting, Round Rock resident Arlen Zander speculated the water quality had been poor long enough to cause infections in humans and dogs who played in it. “I’ve already talked to one father who said his son may have gotten an infection from wading in the creek,” Zander said. “Last summer, I lost a beloved family dog to an intestinal disorder that may or may not have come from the water she drank from the creek.” In February 2021, wastewater overwhelmed the plant due to Winter Storm Uri, and the plant received a violation from the TCEQ at that time based on the quality of water described by residents, Thane said. Additionally, a March city report states there have been sporadic wastewater inow increases into the creek beginning in May 2021. City sta have since been inspect- ing Brushy Creek daily, Thane said, and added TCEQ ocials have visited the city’s wastewater plant on mul- tiple occasions to conrm regulatory compliance. The plant had been in compliance up until early March, when intake levels dramatically increased, Thane said. Among other possibilities, city sta are examining whether construction

May 2021 The approximate average was between 18 and 19 MGD with peak ows between 32 and 33 MGD March 4 The city observed averages of 22 MGD and 24 MGD

PEAK FLOW

SOURCE: CITY OF ROUND ROCK COMMUNITYIMPACT NEWSPAPER

near Round Rock’s larger wastewater interceptors might be a factor. On March 8, Mayor Craig Morgan assured residents that ocials are working to rectify the issue. “Whatever you have to do to make it happen and get it xed, we will throw all resources at it,” Morgan said.

Utilities Director Michael Thane provides an update to City Council March 10.

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ROUND ROCK EDITION • APRIL 2022