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Sunday, July 15, 2001
Three Rivers water supply contaminated
Water from Frio River mixed with city supply at refinery
By Guy H. Lawrence
Caller-Times
Caller-Times
   The Three Rivers city water supply was contaminated with Frio River water Saturday, forcing the city to issue a boil-water notice to residents and distribute bottled water, officials said.
   The water system will be flushed, and water will be tested for contaminants, said Bob Johanson, the city's public works director. It will take at least 24 hours before officials know the bacteriological test results, he said.
   "We anticipate taking the system back to normal operations in approximately 48 hours," Johanson said Saturday.
   In the meantime, the town's 1,900 residents are asked to boil their water before using it for drinking, cooking or bathing. The water should be boiled for at least two minutes. Five-gallon jugs of water were distributed to residents Saturday, and more were available at the city hall, he said.
   The contamination was discovered about 6:30 a.m. Saturday, Johanson said, and involved firefighting crews employed by the Ultramar Diamond Shamrock refinery.
   The refinery crews were pumping water from the river into their system, while a truck kept pressure in the city lines to prevent the back flow. The city waterline was connected to the refinery waterline as a backup. The water from the river backed up into the city system, when the pump in the truck failed for some reason, Johanson said.
   Ultramar Diamond Shamrock spokeswoman Tara Ford said the company did not know when the water contamination occurred, but said the truck stopped pumping so they could change the oil, which is routine.
   "We are doing everything we can to work with the city and public health officials to remedy the situation," Ford said. "We are committed to doing whatever it takes to rectify the problem. The health and safety of the residents of Three Rivers continues to be our No. 1 concern."
   Ultramar Diamond Shamrock was buying the bottled water and covering the costs of having it shipped in, Johanson said.
   The Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission was notified about the contamination, Johanson said.
   "Anytime water is introduced into our system, according to TNRCC, that puts us under a state of contamination, and we had to take precautions," Johanson said.
   TNRCC officials were in Three Rivers to monitor the situation and advise the city on what needs to be done, said Karen Goelkel, a TNRCC spokeswoman from Austin.
   "We will go out and decide what tests need to be done, and we will be involved every step of the way," Goelkel said.
   As for the Frio River, Goelkel said the river was tested as recently as Thursday and approved for recreational use.
   The Frio River, from which the city draws its drinking water, has been monitored regularly since Monday's refinery fire and since the city's wastewater treatment plant was shut down Tuesday because of runoff overflow from the plant, Johanson said.
   "That river has been continually monitored ever since the fire," Johanson said. "The river water is not contaminated. The river has been completely flushed."
   Monday's refinery explosion injured three men, who were released from the hospital on Wednesday. The explosion also resulted in the evacuation of a seven-block area around the plant. Residents returned to their homes on Tuesday.
   For more information about the water, Three Rivers residents can contact the city at (361) 786-2528.


Contact Guy H. Lawrence at 886-3792 or at lawrenceg@caller.com

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