Samples taken from White Rock Lake showed elevated levels of E. coli after 1.5 million gallons of uncooked sewage spilled into water from Plano, in line with a memorandum from town of Dallas.
Within the memo despatched to the Dallas Metropolis Council on Friday, metropolis employees mentioned levels of E. coli remained high on March 21, one week after the spill started. The memo didn’t specify the extent of the contamination, and town didn’t instantly present outcomes to The Dallas Morning Information. Samples got here from the water from White Rock spillway to Frankford Highway.
Final week, Dallas officers suspended water-related actions at White Rock Lake and suggested guests to not fish or enter the water. The order was lifted over the weekend after Dallas Water Utilities reported samples had returned to regular, pre-incident levels.
The spill started March 14 when the valve at a water carry station in Plano failed, flooding the station and shutting down mechanical gear. Sewage then overflowed from three manholes close to 5510 West Plano Parkway.
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That sewage rushed into White Rock Creek, which feeds into White Rock Lake. At one level, Plano officers estimated roughly 500 gallons of sewage had been flowing into the creek per minute. Shortly earlier than 5 a.m. Saturday, about 38 hours later, the spill ended.
A spokesperson for the Texas Fee on Environmental High quality, which is answerable for overseeing such incidents, mentioned the company is investigating the spill. It’s not but clear whether or not any fines shall be levied.
Dallas has shared outcomes E. coli check outcomes with TCEQ, in line with the memo.
Associated:Greater than 1.5 million gallons of sewage spilled into White Rock Creek from Plano
Signs of E. coli infections fluctuate however often embody extreme abdomen cramps, bloody diarrhea, vomiting and generally a gentle fever. Most individuals get higher inside 5 to seven days, however some instances are extreme or life-threatening.
The water carry station, operated by the North Texas Municipal Water District, has resumed operations with some short-term pumping in place. Last repairs to the carry station — which strikes wastewater to the next elevation on its option to a remedy plant — are nearing completion.
“The latest mechanical failure that led to the overflow in Plano was unlucky, and we’re working across the clock to treatment the scenario with the Metropolis of Plano and the suitable regulatory companies,” the water district mentioned in an announcement.
This isn’t the primary time untreated sewage has flowed from Plano into White Rock Creek. Greater than 320,000 gallons of sewage spilled into the creek after a storm in November 2021 downed a tree, which fell on an aerial sewage line.
And in June 2018, a ruptured wastewater pipe in Plano dumped 1 million gallons of uncooked sewage into the creek, forcing Dallas to droop all leisure actions at White Rock Lake. The state fined the contractor answerable for damaging the pipe $7,500, in line with TCEQ paperwork.
To scale back overflows, town of Plano mentioned it’s changing and relining getting older sewer pipes, bettering carry stations and conducting routine inspections of services and sewer traces.
Associated:Water actions restored on White Rock Lake after 1.5M gallons of sewage spilled in Plano
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