Press Release Regarding Rain Event on 2/14/26

 I want residents to have accurate information about the heavy rain event and its impact on the City’s wastewater system. Runaway Bay’s Consulting Wastewater and Collections Operator, Roddy Boston, prepared the following report to provide a clear explanation of what occurred, and the actions being taken.

Respectfully,

Mayor Herman White

On Saturday, February 14, 2026, heavy rain fell across the county, with 1 to 2.5 inches recorded in a short period. Heavy rain inundated our collection system, allowing large amounts of sediment to travel to the wastewater treatment plant via the collection lines.

This sediment consists of sand, grit, and small debris that is found in similar collection systems across the state. Saturday afternoon, rainwater from inflow and infiltration entered the collection system, and sediment was deposited in the lift station at the wastewater treatment plant, causing the pumps conveying water into the plant to fail. There was a spill of wastewater originating from the wastewater plant. It is still being cleaned, and the immediate area is being disinfected.

Crews responded accordingly and attempted to pull the pumps to clear the obstruction. After multiple hours of attempting to repair the pumps, including installing a new pump, the City contacted Select Energy Services to bring 2 pump trucks to remove the lift station's contents and clear all sediment and materials that had entered it. Select Energy Services has partnered with the city on previous projects and responded with trucks on-site within 2 hours of the call for assistance.

The plant is now fully operational and treating wastewater once again.

During the rain event, the volume of stormwater entering the system caused several manholes in some neighborhoods to overflow. These overflows were and are being caused by the same style of sediment and debris that affected the Wastewater treatment plant.

We are systematically working through the overflows to close each one. The lines will be cleared of obstruction, and the immediate areas where the spill has occurred will be cleaned and disinfected. We are working from the furthest points outward and heading toward the treatment plant. This will allow us to remove debris as we move on, preventing it from moving into the next section of the city.

The flow makeup of this water, even though it comes from the collection system, is very heavily diluted with stormwater. There remains an abundance of groundwater beneath the immediate surface that is infiltrating the collection system through the walls of manholes and will continue to do so for the next few days.

During this period, as city crews respond to numerous calls, residents are urged to remain vigilant and report any overflowing manholes to City Hall.

We have been in contact with TCEQ, informed them of our issues, and they are working with us to mitigate these events. We have also been in contact with the Tarrant Regional Water District, and they have been eager to assist with progress and mitigation.

If you have any questions about the events from this past weekend, please contact City Hall.

Roddy Boston

Consulting Wastewater and Collections Operator