News Summary
Georgetown, Texas is addressing an environmental concern due to a wastewater spill of over 90,000 gallons into Berry Creek from the Pecan Branch Wastewater Treatment Plant. Immediate actions have been taken, and officials confirm drinking water supplies remain safe. The city plans to notify nearby well owners and offer disinfection services. This incident arises amid the city’s expansion efforts, with significant investments in water supply infrastructure projected to enhance long-term sustainability.
Georgetown, Texas is currently addressing a significant environmental concern following a wastewater spill that released over 90,000 gallons into Berry Creek. The incident took place at the Pecan Branch Wastewater Treatment Plant at approximately 2 a.m. on January 28, 2025. City officials reported that around 90,600 gallons of partially treated wastewater were discharged due to an equipment malfunction.
Immediate action was taken by the city water department staff, who responded to the situation promptly. They confirmed that there were no signs of further discharge after the initial response and have since worked to contain the incident. Residents first alerted the city officials about the wastewater discharge during the following Friday.
Fortunately, current low flow conditions in Berry Creek have prevented the spill from flowing downstream, which has helped limit its impact. To facilitate cleanup, an environmental company has been brought in, although a specific timeline for their response has yet to be determined. Importantly, officials have confirmed that the spill has not compromised the city’s drinking water supply, with Georgetown City Manager David Morgan noting that the spill site was not in proximity to any public water wells or lakes.
In a preventive measure, the city plans to notify private well owners located in the vicinity of the spill and will offer disinfection services for their wells. The exact cause of the equipment malfunction that led to the spill has not been disclosed as of this report.
This incident occurs during a time of rapid growth for Georgetown, which is actively investing in its water supply infrastructure to ensure sustainable service for an expanding population. City officials project a potential water shortage by 2030, prompting a substantial initiative to enhance water infrastructure with a budget of $291.8 million.
One of the major projects underway is the construction of the South Lake Water Treatment Plant, which will significantly boost the city’s treated water supply by an estimated 22 million gallons per day by this summer and next. This endeavor includes a $175.3 million contract with PLW Waterworks and is designed to meet the increasing demand for water resulting from the community’s population growth.
Additionally, the city expanded the capacity of the North Lake Water Treatment Plant by 30% in 2024 and has rehabilitated the Southside Water Treatment Plant, adding 3.6 million gallons per day to its capacity. Presently, Georgetown’s water supply relies significantly on the Brazos River Authority for 70% of its water resources, with limited access to groundwater from the Edwards Aquifer.
To enhance its water supply reliability, Georgetown is actively pursuing groundwater diversification strategies and has started negotiations concerning three groundwater contracts. A potential agreement with Recharge Water could yield up to 34,800 acre-feet of water from the Simsboro Aquifer. Furthermore, EPCOR may supply between 32 to 62.5 million gallons per day of treated groundwater by 2030, contingent upon the construction of a necessary pipeline.
If all negotiations are successfully concluded, it is estimated that the new contracts could add a total of 110 million gallons of groundwater supply to Georgetown. City officials are expected to provide further updates on these negotiations by the end of 2025 as the city continues to navigate both immediate environmental challenges and long-term resource sustainability goals.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Georgetown Prepares for Major Water Infrastructure Expansion
Additional Resources
- CBS Austin
- Wikipedia: Georgetown, Texas
- ABC News 4
- Google Search: Georgetown, Texas wastewater spill
- Community Impact Newspaper
- Google Scholar: Georgetown, Texas water supply
- FOX 7 Austin
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Georgetown, Texas
- Smart Water Magazine
- Google News: Georgetown, Texas water projects
