City of Horseshoe Bay
I am writing to provide a comprehensive update regarding the chemical incident at our Central Water Plant and to assure you that the situation has been fully resolved.
At approximately 8 a.m. Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, a chemical incident occurred at our Central Water Plant when a delivery truck driver mistakenly added aluminum sulfate solution to a storage tank containing liquid chlorine, resulting in the release of chlorine gas through the tank vent.
Our emergency re- sponse teams acted imme - diately upon discovery of the situation.
Area Secured
The Horseshoe Bay Fire Department, Police Department, and Wa ter Plant staff worked in concert to secure the im- mediate area and stop the chemical transfer.
First responders quick - ly deployed monitoring devices to track gas lev- els while police officers went door-to-door in affected areas to notify residents and issue shelter- in-place advisories where necessary.
By 11 a.m., it was con- firmed that gas levels in the surrounding neighborhoods had returned to safe levels, and by 1 p.m., the water plant facility was declared safe.
Continuous air monitoring throughout the day confirmed that no dan gerous gas levels remain in the area. Most impor - tantly, I want to assure you that at no point was there any contamination of our water supply, as the plant's operations were suspended during the inci dent. We conducted thorough testing to verify water safety before resuming production.
Precautionary Measure
Regarding those af fected by the incident; eleven individuals were evaluated at local hos- pitals as a precautionary measure. We are relieved to report that all but one the delivery truck driver were treated and released the same day.
The driver, who was kept overnight for obser vation, has since been re- leased and is expected to make a full recovery.
Additionally, some trees and vegetation were also affected and will be documented to determine extent of damage.
Foliage Care
According to Sandra Nash, City of Horseshoe Bay Landscape Architect, if your plants, bushes, or trees have been exposed to chlorine gas, taking swift action can help them recover.
Begin by gently rinsing all affected foliage with clean water to wash away any chlorine resi- due, paying close atten tion to the undersides of the leaves.
This helps reduce fur ther damage. Monitor plants for signs of stress, such as wilting, leaf discoloration, or browning.
Don't remove the trees with brown leaves just yet.
Wait for the leaves that may have turned brown to fall off and give the tree a chance for new growth.
Deep watering the soil can help flush out chlo rine that may have settled on the soil but be cautious not to overwater.
Applying a small amount of balanced fertilizer can also aid in the recovery process.
Keep a close eye on the plants over the fol lowing days and weeks ensure they regain their health, and consult a local nursery or arborist if symptoms persist.
Fully Operational
The water plant has now returned to full op -erational capacity thanks to the dedication of our maintenance crews and the generous assistance of our regional utility partners, particularly the Kingsland Water Supply Corporation, who provid - ed crucial replacement components.
While we have re- stored full water produc tion, we encourage residents to remain mindful of their water usage to en- sure adequate supply for all community members as we complete our resto ration work.
Looking ahead, we are taking several important steps to prevent any sim ilar incidents in the future. We have initiated a thorough investigation and are working closely with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).
We are also in communication with our insur- ance provider regarding damages and are coordinating with the delivery company involved in the
incident.
Coordinated Effort
The swift resolution of this situation would not have been possible without the coordinated efforts of our emergen- cy responders, city staff, regional utility partners, and the cooperation of our residents. Your patience and understanding during this incident have been invaluable.
Should you have any questions or need to re - port incident-related dam - ages, please contact our Utility Billing office at 830-598-8741.
During business hours, press 1 for Utility Billing; after-hours assistance is available through our au- tomated prompts.
We remain committed to maintaining transpar ent communication with our community and will continue to prioritize your safety in all our opera - tions. Thank you for your continued support and understanding during this incident.
