112519 Press Release - Lift Station Overflow 4`�„� FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DENTON Ryan Adams • (940) 349-8565 • Ryan.Adams@cityofdenton.com
Hickory Creek Lift Station Overflow
Pump Failure Leads to City of Denton Sewer Overflow
UPDATE: Nov. 25,2019, 9:15 p.m.—The City of Denton continues its response to the sanitary
sewer overflow at the Hickory Creek Lift Station.
After consultation with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality(TCEQ), the City asks
that as a precautionary measure,persons using private drinking water wells located within one-
half mile of the Hickory Creek Lift Station (located near Teasley Lane and Old Alton Road) 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 their water is safe for personal use. The City of Denton water system
has not been impacted, and water from the City of Denton is safe for all personal uses.
The public should avoid contact with any waste material, soil, or water in the area potentially
affected by the spill. The public is requested to avoid trails and other public spaces in the
immediate vicinity of Old Alton Bridge during the overflow response.
Additional updates will be provided as they are available.
Contact: Ryan Adams, (940) 349-8565, Ryan.Adams@cityofdenton.com
DENTON, TX,Nov. 25, 2019—The City of Denton Wastewater Utility reported a failure at the
Hickory Creek Lift Station near the Old Alton Bridge around 10 a.m. Sunday,Nov. 24, which
resulted in a sanitary sewer overflow in the vicinity. While the volume of the overflow is
undetermined at this time, it is estimated to exceed 100,000 gallons.
Staff is actively investigating the cause of the failure and the extent of the overflow. Staff
responded immediately to the station, and sewage has been temporarily diverted until repairs are
made.
Samples of Hickory Creek will be tested on an ongoing basis to determine any impacts to water
quality. Staff will continue to monitor the creek conditions and implement precautionary
measures as needed. Staff from the City's Watershed division are currently monitoring the
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stream upstream and downstream of the discharge. Staff is also adding oxygen to the stream as a
precautionary measure to ensure protection of Hickory Creek.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality(TCEQ)requires the City to notify the public
and all appropriate government officials of overflows that exceed 100,000 gallons in a single
drainage basin.
Contact: Rebecca Diviney, (940) 349-8461, Rebecca.Diviney@cityofdenton.com
Visit www.cityofdenton.com for more news and to stay updated.
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Texas
§319.302
NOTICE OF SPILL FROM A WASTEWATER
FACILITY(A spill from a wastewater treatment or collection
facility has occurred)
INFORMATION ABOUT THE SPILL
Facility Name: Hickory Creek Lift Station
Contact for further information: Rebecca P. Diviney, Deputy Director WaterMastewater Utility
Location of the spill: 2695 Old Alton Road
Estimated time and date of spill: 930 minutes, November 24 at 10:00 am to November 25,
2019 at 1:30 am
Estimated volume of the spill (number of gallons): 400,000
Type of spill: (domestic) (industrial) (other) Explain other: Domestic
Area potentially affected: Hickory Creek
Suspected cause of spill: Failure at the lift station. Cause still being investigated.
THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS HAVE BEEN TAKEN:
Appropriate local governmental officials have been notified.
TCEQ regional office has been notified.
The spill has been contained.
The cause of the spill is being investigated and corrected.
Clean-up activities are underway.
Aeration into the creek along with stream monitoring was initiated, and no adverse
impacts have been determined at this time.
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