Sanitary Sewer Crossing Collapses In Southwest Fort Worth

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FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM) - Around mid-day Wednesday Fort Worth water department crews located a collapsed 24-inch sewer main, causing 300 gallons per minute of wastewater to overflow into Mary's Creek in southwest Fort Worth at 4016 Burkett Drive.

Crews set up bypass pumping operations to contain the water.

The Water Department Laboratory will perform additional sampling of the creek downstream. No impact to drinking water is expected, according to officials.

The collapse is located in a heavily wooded area east of Loop 820.

People who live near the spill may want to take the following precautions:

• People using private drinking water supply wells located within 1/2-mile of the spill site 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.
• People who purchase water from a public water supply may contact their water supply distributor to determine if the water is safe for personal use. Fort Worth's drinking water is not impacted by this overflow.
• The public should avoid contact with waste material, soil, or water in the area potentially affected by the spill.
• If the public comes into contact with waste material, soil, or water potentially affected by the spill, they should bathe and wash clothes thoroughly as soon as possible.

The cause of the spill is under investigation.

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