Water Notice
NBU has issued a WATER NOTICE – May 27, 2026
New Braunfels Utilities responded to a sanitary sewer overflow early Wednesday morning after a storm system appeared to have caused a temporary power outage at the Rio Bar Screen Facility, located at 470 Rio Lane. The outage resulted in an unauthorized discharge of an estimated 550,000 gallons of wastewater into the Guadalupe River north of Lake Dunlap.
Timeline of Events
- Approximately 1:00 a.m. — A storm system from last night appears to have caused a temporary power outage. Wastewater began discharging from a manhole at the facility into the Guadalupe River north of Lake Dunlap.
- Approximately 4:00 a.m. — Power was restored, normal operations resumed and the overflow stopped.
- Early Morning Hours — NBU crews responded immediately to contain the release, begin cleanup operations, disinfect affected areas and initiate upstream and downstream water quality sampling.
Response & Cleanup Efforts
NBU crews are actively working to remediate the affected area and minimize environmental impacts. Current response efforts include:
- Removing debris from impacted ground areas
- Applying disinfectant treatments to reduce bacteria and contamination
- Conducting water quality sampling upstream and downstream of the discharge location
- Monitoring water quality conditions until sample results return to normal levels
There is no impact on NBU’s drinking water system. We recognize how important our river system is to our community, local businesses, and tourism. Based on initial observations, the overflow appears to have been significantly diluted by stormwater runoff and river flow conditions. However, all recreational river use should follow local guidelines.
NBU is communicating with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and following all required reporting and notification procedures related to the incident. Additionally, NBU is coordinating with the City of New Braunfels, neighboring agencies and downstream water purveyors to inform them of the occurrence.
If you have questions or need assistance, please contact NBU at 830.629.8400.
Around 1 a.m. on Wednesday, May 27, a storm system caused a temporary power outage at New Braunfels Utilities’ Rio Bar Screen Facility located at 470 Rio Lane, resulting in untreated wastewater overflow that entered the Guadalupe River near Lake Dunlap through a nearby storm drain.
The outage resulted in an unauthorized discharge of an estimated 550,000 gallons of wastewater into the Guadalupe River north of Lake Dunlap.
Yes. The overflow stopped after power was restored to the lift station around 4 a.m.
There is no impact on NBU’s drinking water system, and there is no need to boil your water.
No, nearby wells are not affected by this incident.
We recognize how important our river system is to our community, local businesses and tourism. Based on initial observations, the overflow appears to have been significantly diluted by stormwater runoff and river flow conditions. However, all recreational river use should follow local guidelines.
We recognize how important our river system is to our community, local businesses and tourism. Based on initial observations, the overflow appears to have been significantly diluted by stormwater runoff and river flow conditions. However, all recreational river use should follow local guidelines.
Based on current river flow conditions and ongoing water quality monitoring, NBU believes the discharged wastewater has been substantially diluted and flushed downstream of the affected area. Cleanup and sampling efforts are ongoing in coordination with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).
While TCEQ is the regulatory agency responsible for overseeing water quality and public health protections, current conditions do not indicate an ongoing elevated risk in the affected portion of the river. Customers should continue to exercise normal caution when recreating in any natural waterway, particularly following significant rainfall or high-flow events.
NBU will provide updates if additional concerns are identified.
Yes. NBU has notified the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and is following all required reporting and notification procedures related to the incident.
Additionally, NBU is coordinating with the City of New Braunfels, neighboring agencies and downstream water purveyors to inform them of the occurrence.
NBU crews responded immediately after the outage to:
- Stop the overflow once power was restored
- Assess the affected area
- Begin cleanup and monitoring efforts
- Coordinate with TCEQ
- Evaluate mitigation and prevention measures
Yes. NBU crews are continuing to monitor and assess conditions in the affected area.
Protecting waterways remains an important part of serving our community. NBU is evaluating additional mitigation and resiliency measures following the incident to help reduce the likelihood of similar impacts during future power disruptions.