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Houston Has 154,000-Gallon Sewage Spill After Power Outage

HOUSTON, TEXAS - JULY 08: A person looks out towards the flooded interstate after Hurricane Beryl swept through the area on July 08, 2024 in Houston, Texas. Tropical Storm Beryl developed into a Category 1 hurricane as it hit the Texas coast late last night. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images) (Brandon Bell/Photographer: Brandon Bell/Getty)

(Bloomberg) -- Houston warned residents that 154,000 gallons of “domestic wastewater” spilled in the downtown area after Hurricane Beryl dumped heavy rain and cut power to much of the metropolitan area.

Residents within a half mile (0.8 kilometer) of the spill site near the confluence of Buffalo and White Oak bayous who rely on private wells were warned Tuesday to boil water for at least a minute before consuming it. Municipal water supplies are not affected, the public works department said in a statement.

“The public should avoid contact with waste material, soil or water in the area potentially affected by the spill,” according to the statement. “Do not swim in affected areas.”  

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