LOUISIANA ROOTS. EAST TEXAS SOUL.EIGHT STATIONS. ONE LOCAL CONNECTION.
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City of Hemphill Press Release

Archived as originally published. Information reflects the date of this article.

City of Hemphill

Public Notification of Wastewater Discharge

From Wastewater Collection Facility

Information about the Discharge:

An unauthorized discharge or spill of wastewater has occurred from the City of Hemphill’s Wastewater Collection System EPA ID#TX0060801 Permit#WQ0010493-002

Facility Name:            City of Hemphill Wastewater Treatment Plant Collection Facility

Person to contact for information:    Laure Morgan, City Manager or Woodie Dorsey, WWTP Supervisor (409) 787-2251

Location of spill/discharge:                Tree roots broke an 8-inch clay pipe about 3 feet underground in Travis Branch, a small Creek next to Hemphill Garden Club, on the south side of Worth Street/Hwy 83 East, near the intersection of Cedar Street, Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas.

Estimated date and time of spill:        Spill was discovered on 04/09/2020.  It is estimated that the pipe had been broken, since approximately 03/24/2020.

Estimated Volume of the Spill:           1.5 million gallons

Type of Spill:                                       Domestic

Description of area potentially

Affected:                                             200 yards downstream, southeast from line break in Travis Branch

 

Suspected Cause of Spill:                    Broken underground 8-inch clay pipe

 

The following governmental officials have been notified in addition to the TCEQ Region 10 Regional Office:

  • Daryl Melton, Sabine County Judge
  • Robert Hamilton, Mayor, City of Hemphill

Containment of spill:                          Broken section of pipe was replaced with PVC pipe.

Initiation and completion of

Cleanup Activities:                             City wastewater personnel sprinkled granulated chlorine on affected area and for 200 yards down stream from the break.

PRECAUTIONARY STATEMENTS FOR THE PUBLIC: 

  1. The public should avoid contact with waste material, soil, or water in the area potentially affected by the spill.
  2. 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.