Austin Water to conduct simulated oil spill training Wednesday

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Personnel with Austin Water will take part in a training exercise Wednesday morning that will simulate an oil spill on Lake Austin, according to a Monday evening press release from the public water utility.

During the exercise, Austin Water will use watercraft, floating booms and containment barriers, to contain the simulated spill in a race against the clock. The timer is based on how quickly a real spill could reach the Ullrich Water Treatment Plant’s raw water intakes near Tom Miller Dam.

“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 in the release. “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.”

The utility promised in its release that “no contaminants will be released into the water during the exercise.”

The release notes that the Lower Colorado River Authority, Austin Watershed, and commercial oil and gas industry experts will also participate in the exercise. This will let the groups and Austin Water gain more experience with “cross-department communication” and the “operational logistics” of emergency response.

According to Austin Water, the exercise was created in response to recommendations made by The University of Texas’ Center for Water and the Environment. In 2023, the center published a report reviewing “Austin Water quality events,” which was spurred by Austin Water’s February 2022 boil water notice.

The training exercise will last from 7 a.m. until 12 p.m. Wednesday.