The City of Presidio reported that approximately 79,000 gallons of untreated sewage were discharged onto the ground earlier this month after a mechanical failure at one of the city’s wastewater lift stations.
According to a public notice issued by the city, the incident occurred around 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 10, when a pump failed at Lift Station No. 3, located near 410 South Texas Street. The malfunction caused the station to stop operating, resulting in a sewer backup that discharged wastewater from a manhole located roughly 300 feet south of the facility.
City officials said the lift station was repaired and returned to operation by 2:30 p.m. the following day, Wednesday, Feb. 11.
The spill affected nearby ground surfaces, and officials noted there could be potential health risks if contaminated water were ingested or came into contact with skin. As part of the response, the affected area was disinfected using calcium hypochlorite in both granular and tablet form, according to documentation submitted to state regulators.
The incident was reported to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) as an unauthorized discharge under the city’s wastewater permit. Officials indicated that no fish kills were reported and that monitoring data would be submitted when available.
City staff also stated that steps are being taken to prevent a similar failure in the future. A backup pump is currently being refurbished, and the city is pursuing grant funding to replace pumps and upgrade the lift station infrastructure.
Residents with questions about the incident were encouraged to contact the City of Presidio at 432-229-3517.
Wastewater infrastructure challenges are not uncommon in rural communities, where aging systems and limited funding can increase the risk of equipment failures. Municipal leaders across the region have increasingly relied on state and federal grants to modernize water and sewer systems.
