The City of Conroe Public Works Department announces at approximately 2:30 PM on Tuesday March 20, 2012 a Sixty (60) inch sewer main line collapsed causing a five hundred forty thousand (540,000) gallon Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSO) inside the boundaries of the Camp Strake Boy Scout Camp which is a 2,200 acre tract. The overflow was approximately one third of a mile southeast of the intersection of Sgt. Ed Holcomb Blvd. and South Loop 336 inside Camp Strake. The collapsed line caused domestic sewage to overflow from a manhole two hundred yards to the northeast adjacent to a small creek. Nearly 2” of rainfall caused the domestic sewage to flow from the creek and into Grand Lake on the campgrounds and subsequently into the west fork of the San Jacinto River. City Crews installed pumps and excavated the collapsed line to stop the overflow and return the normal flow of the sewage within four (4) hours. State and Local authorities were notified of the incident as soon as possible.

Please know persons using private drinking water supply wells located within 1/2-mile of the spill site or within the potentially affected area should use only water that has been distilled or boiled at a rolling boil for at least one minute for all personal uses including drinking, cooking, bathing, and tooth brushing. Individuals with private water wells should have their well water tested and disinfected, if necessary, prior to discontinuing distillation or boiling. Persons who purchase water from a public water supply may contact their water supply distributor to determine if the water is safe for personal use. The public should avoid contact with waste material, soil, or water in the area potentially affected by the spill. If the public comes into contact with waste material, soil, or water potentially affected by the spill, they should bathe and wash clothes thoroughly as soon as possible.

The sanitary sewer overflow has been contained and was located in an isolated area of Camp Strake well beyond the ½-mile radius. This sewer line is currently under construction in a 19,000 foot section to be rehabilitated.