In 2017, multiple hurricanes attacked the Gulf Coast, the heart of the US energy industry. During Hurricane Harvey, the Neches River in Beaumont Texas flooded the primary pump station, which draws source water to Beaumont drinking water treatment plant (WTP). As a result, the Beaumont WTP was shut down and approximately 120,000 residents suffered a tap water outage from August 31 to September 6, 2017. In response, the water intake was temporarily moved from the Neches River to Brakes Bayou until the primary pump station resumed full function. However, further investigations showed that the temporary water intake was located less than half mile upstream from a historical creosoting site and multiple active industrial facilities on the riverbank of the Brakes Bayou. There is a risk that the floodwater might flow upstream and contaminate the source water.<br/>To investigate the potential impacts on Beaumont water supply safety, extensive sampling was conducted during and after the hurricane. Source water, residual floodwater, river water, soil, and sediment were collected from the temporary water intake spot, the Brakes Bayou, and the Neches River to evaluate potential hazardous chemical release and source water contamination. Tap water samples were collected from residential houses, office buildings, student dorms and a dinning hall to investigate fluctuations in water quality. Source water, sediment and other environmental samples are being tested for various organic and inorganic compounds. Tap water is being tested for disinfection by-products, dissolved organic matter, nutrients, metals, and other aggregate water quality parameters. Source water contamination and tap water quality will be compared to identify possible correlations and causes. The research results can be a valuable reference for future contingency plans in response to extreme weather conditions.

Investigating the elevated risk of source water contamination imposed by an unprecedented natural disaster

256th National Meeting (2018)

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