TEMPLE, Texas — Heavy rainfall continues to cause problems for parts of Central Texas.
On Sunday, around 11 a.m. in Temple, a sanitary sewer system began to overflow as a result of the rainfall.
According to the City of Temple, the overflow was near 3420 Northwood Road, and spread to affect Bird Creek from HK Dodgen Loop to North wood Road.
The estimated 302,010 gallons of water were cleared by 1:30 a.m. on Monday.
The city says crews have cleaned and disinfected the affected area, even adding chlorine at the sources of the overflow and other areas upstream that are sources of water inflow.
A capital project is planned to resolve the issue and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has been notified, according to the city.
Meanwhile in Waco, several manholes overflowed with nearly 70,000 gallons of wastewater the same day. Staff with the city located the manholes that were leaking -- one reported at 2200 Lyle Ave. by a customer -- and they chlorinated for disinfection, as well as obtained a sample for testing.
All affected manholes stopped overflowing, the City of Waco said Monday.
The TCEQ recommends the following things as precautionary measures:
- Those using private water drinking supply wells within half a mile of the spill site or in the potentially affected area are recommended to use distilled water or to boil the water for at least one minute
- Those who purchase water from a public water supply to contact their water supply distributor to determine if the water is safe for personal use
- Members of the public to avoid contact with waste material, soil or water in the area potential affected by the spill
- For those that do come into contact with waste material, soil or water possibly affected by the spill, to bathe and wash their clothes as thoroughly as soon as possible
The city says its water system is unaffected.