Austin Water will conduct a training exercise on October 1 from 7 a.m. to noon near the Ullrich Water Treatment Plant on Lake Austin. Emergency response watercraft and personnel will be visible in the area during this time. The exercise will simulate an oil spill approaching the plant’s raw water intakes near Tom Miller Dam.
Participating agencies will practice joint emergency procedures, including tracking contaminants, deploying floating booms and containment barriers, and conducting spill recovery. No actual contaminants will be released into the water during this exercise.
This event is part of Austin Water’s emergency preparedness program and follows recommendations from an external review by The University of Texas – Center for Water and the Environment. The exercise offers Austin Water’s Incident Management Team a chance to practice emergency protocols in a simulated setting.
Austin Water is collaborating with the Lower Colorado River Authority, Austin Watershed, and commercial oil and gas industry experts for this drill. The goal is to test cross-department communication and operational logistics for potential future emergencies.
“This is a great opportunity for our teams to practice emergency scenarios involving a multi-agency joint response,” said Austin Water Director Shay Ralls Roalson. “These training exercises strengthen our emergency protocols and help Austin Water staff prepare for a range of contingencies, enhancing reliability and continuity of service for our customers.”
Information from this article can be found here.
