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Bullard Sewage System Strained By Rain

(Staff Photo Jaime R. Carrero)

Raw sewage overflows between 109 Lynch Drive and the house next door in Bullard on Thursday.

By KENNETH DEAN
Staff Writer

BULLARD - Residents are crying foul after raw sewage ran through their neighborhood and forces at least one couple to take sponge baths and use a portable toilet.

The citizens cite a lack of sufficient sewer lines, while city officials contend they are correcting problems facing a small city experiencing a growth spurt and past mistakes.

John and Lorna Loftin, both in their 80s, said they have dealt with inadequate sewage and water with the City of Bullard for the past eight years when a new subdivision was built near their home.

"They (the city) just tied into the existing sewer line and put all of those people on a line that wasn't designed for this many houses," Loftin said. "We shouldn't have to live like this."

(Staff Photo Jaime R. Carrero)

This is the pump station that services the affected area in Bullard.

Mrs. Loftin said the sewage problem was so bad they could not take showers, baths or use the toilet and candles were burning constantly to mask the odor.

"My husband just had cancer surgery and this is just a hideous situation that we shouldn't have to put up with at our age," she said. "Actually no one should."

SEWAGE AND HEAVY RAINS

The Loftins said the heavy rains have caused the problem to resurface after two years of drought.

"When we don't have the rain then we don't have the problem, but when it rains, the system backs up and a river of raw sewage runs from our yard behind us and through the adjoining neighborhood," Loftin said.

In 2005 the couple took their problems to the Texas Commission on Environmental Qua-lity and an investigator looked at the area.

The investigator sent a report to the City of Bullard a sewage bypass had occurred, and a city official met with the investigator and the two discussed the problem.

According to a TCEQ complaint report, the investigator was told that a pump on a lift station was not operating and it was being replaced.

The investigator told the city to comply and to spread powdered chlorine over the affected area. "I told them then that the pump was not the only problem, but that the line was also too small for all of these homes," Loftin said.

Loftin, a former Bullard mayor, pointed across Old Jacksonville Highway to a park where the lifting station's red light flashed continuously. Loftin said the light has been blinking for two days and he believes that indicates there is a problem.

However, city officials said the light lets them know the pumps are working nonstop and, with all of the recent rains, the pump is working overtime.

Behind the couple on Courtney Street, several neighbors reiterate the Loftins' complaints.

"We have about three inches of some type of nasty sewage in our backyard. It just plain stinks." Robert Mims said. "It's so bad that we don't dare drink the water here."

Mims' wife Leigh said a plumber told them the problems were from the city's line and not a problem on their property.

"Every plumbing fixture on our house is stained and the water when it comes out is foamy and smells," she said.

Both the Loftins and the Mims said they have made phone calls to the city, but have not been answered. "They are avoiding our calls," Mrs. Mims said.

CITY RESPONDS

Larry Morgan, Bullard city manager, admitted the city was experiencing problems with the water and sewage system in place, but added the city had not received any calls from either party.

"We have sewage problems because we have an old system in place and we are a small city experiencing growth," he said. "We have a whole array of problems for a city with growth and no money."

Morgan added that in the past two years the city has worked hard to correct problems with the current water and sewage facilities and lines, but results did not occur over night.

"You can't correct everything over night and we have a lot to correct," he said. "Before two years ago, when I came on, there were entire streets put in and entire (housing) additions put in, and I don't think one inspection was ever done."

Morgan added the city's sewage plant was completely out of compliance with TCEQ two years ago and was currently being reworked to remain in compliance. One thing the city did, Morgan said, is to hire an engineer who looks at each new subdivision before ground is broken to determine water and sewage needs.

"There is one street where a two inch water line feeds 40 houses, and that is not good enough for fire suppression should it be needed," he said. Morgan also said the amount of rain has had an affect on the pumps. "The pumps are just trying to keep up with the amount of rain we have had," he said.

Morgan said the city is working to correct the sewage problem and had done some work on Courtney Street to relieve some of the sewage woes felt by the residents.

"Have we solved every problem in the city? No we haven't."

The Loftins said they hope the problem gets fixed soon. "It was embarrassing this week, because we had company come in from out of town and they couldn't even use the toilet."