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.
Rio Bar Screen Facility Map