Switch to the mobile version of this page.

San Antonio Current

        
Tweet

Email

Print
Share

Tuesday, December 1, 2020

SAWS crews test for ammonia in San Antonio River after South Side sewer spill

Posted By Kelly Merka Nelson on Tue, Dec 1, 2020 at 10:52 AM

click to enlarge

A ruptured pipe near 8510 Mission Parkway spilled sewage into the San Antonio River. - SCREENSHOT / GOOGLE MAPS

Screenshot / Google Maps
A ruptured pipe near 8510 Mission Parkway spilled sewage into the San Antonio River.

Well, shit.

A ruptured 30-inch sewer main on the South Side spilled more than 100,000 gallons of material into the San Antonio River on Sunday, MySA reports. The breached pipe is located in brush near 8510 Mission Parkway.

The spill was reported by a caller at 1 p.m. Sunday. By 4:30 p.m., more than 100,000 gallons had flowed into the river, triggering a public notice from San Antonio Water System. According to MySA, crews contained the spill around 9 p.m. that evening.

In the notice, SAWS officials said that while the cause of the spill was yet to be determined, "the extended drought followed by recent wet weather could have contributed to soil movement in this area, which is known to have high clay content."

On Monday, SAWS crews tested for ammonia in the area, and found no evidence of the chemical.

SAWS spokeswoman Anne Hayden told MySA that recent rains had increased the flow of the river, which likely helped clear the spill.

"In all likelihood, it's safe at this point," Hayden told the news site. "It's pretty chilly. I'm not sure if you want to jump in the water right now, but you should be just fine."

Stay on top of San Antonio news and views. Sign up for our Weekly Headlines Newsletter.

Tags: San Antonio, Texas, SAWS, San Antonio Water System, sewage, sewer, sewer spill, ruptured pipe, ruptured sewer main, public notice, San Antonio River, river, ammonia, South Side, Mission Parkway, Image

San Antonio Current works for you, and your support is essential.

Our small but mighty local team works tirelessly to bring you high-quality, uncensored news and cultural coverage of San Antonio and beyond.

Unlike many newspapers, ours is free – and we'd like to keep it that way, because we believe, now more than ever, everyone deserves access to accurate, independent coverage of their community.

Whether it's a one-time acknowledgement of this article or an ongoing pledge, your support helps keep San Antonio's true free press free.