EPA, TCEQ pay city visit
Warnings issued, but no fines levied by agencies
By Lori Mellinger editor@bullardnews.com

The city of Bullard received what City Manager Larry Morgan said were simple violations last week from two environmental agencies, but no fines were levied, and the visit was routine in nature.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality paid a visit to the city of Bullard to do its yearly inspection on the sewer plant's discharge system. The Environmental Protection Agency accompanied the state regulatory agency on this annual visit.

"What we were warned about were simple violations relating to matters such as a brush pile we had yet to clear away because of storm damage and recent clean up," Morgan said.

The agencies did have a common concern that Bullard officials were warned to address - the lack of a bar screen at the sewer plant.

Morgan said he and the city crew sat down with the TCEQ and EPA representatives and the group discussed all of its concerns and a plan of action.

"One of the points of contention was the city doesn't have a first line of defense at its sewer plant - a bar screen."

Bar screens are standard and required at sewer plants and are used to protect the plant against entry of large objects that could cause blockage in the system. The screen separates bulk matter - which could be any number of things flushed into the sewer system - that puts a strain on the filtration system.

"It's not a public health hazard," Morgan said. "But it does put undue strain on our system."

Morgan said the city was warned - in writing -- back in 2000-01 that TCEQ required the plant to install a bar screen, but no action was taken.

Once the council learned the screen was not in place - after the city formed its own crew in 2006 - its been working on purchasing a bar screen.

"The council has already authorized the purchase of the screen," Morgan said. "All we are waiting for now is an extension line from Bullard Creek Ranch."

The agencies also told the city there was too much strain on intake in its system.

"The problem there is that we've been processing a huge amount of rainwater in the past two months," Morgan said. "But the agencies don't take extenuating circumstances into account - they have a specific method.

"They measure the amount of intake - not the conditions."

More than 17 inches of rain has fallen in Bullard in less than a month-long period.

"They suggested the lift station near O.L. Ferrell Park be updated," Morgan said. "Again, council was aware of the situation and our city engineer is already in the design phase for an update."

He said TCEQ requires the city write a letter within two weeks of the inspection addressing concerns and outlining a course of action.

"Overall, I'm pleased to report that the city staff and crew have done a good job of remedying old problems - both in the wastewater and water systems," Morgan said. "I commend them and the council on taking a proactive approach."