More than 100,000 gallons of untreated wastewater spilled into Rosillo Creek after a sewer main collapsed on San Antonio’s Northeast Side, according to utility officials. The failure hit a 24‑inch concrete pipe near Bicentennial Drive and Interstate 10 and was discovered Monday afternoon following heavy rains late last week. Crews quickly moved in to isolate the broken section, install temporary bypass pumps and start repairs.
In a statement to the San Antonio Express-News, San Antonio Water System spokeswoman Anne Hayden said heavy rainfall and localized flooding likely weakened the pipeline, which was installed in 1971, and that this likely led to the collapse that sent wastewater into Rosillo Creek. The creek eventually flows into Salado Creek. Hayden told the paper that crews traced the discharge to the broken section on Monday and set up a bypass around the damaged main while repairs continue. The utility said the spill exceeded the reportable threshold and noted it treats roughly 140 million gallons of wastewater each day while operating thousands of miles of sewer pipe across its service area.
Where the Spill Flowed and What Rules Apply
Rosillo Creek drains into downstream waterways, so officials are watching for problems beyond the immediate break. Under guidance from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, discharges of 100,000 gallons or more require public notification and can trigger extra reporting steps, including calls to the agency’s emergency hotline. State rules spell out when utilities must alert the media and nearby communities and how sampling, advisories and other tools should be used to protect public health.
SAWS System and Past Oversight
The San Antonio Water System is a city-owned utility that serves about 2 million people in Bexar County and neighboring areas and oversees the region’s wastewater collection and treatment systems. SAWS’ publicly available plans and project documents describe ongoing capital work aimed at replacing aging mains and cutting sanitary sewer overflows. Federal oversight has also pushed upgrades in recent years. The utility resolved past Clean Water Act enforcement through a settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which officials cite as part of a broader effort to boost system reliability and prevent future spills.
What Neighbors Should Watch
People living near Rosillo and Salado creeks are being told to steer clear of creek water for now and to keep pets away as well. TCEQ guidance advises against swimming, fishing or using affected water for household purposes after a sanitary sewer overflow until testing shows conditions are safe. SAWS told the San Antonio Express-News it will keep monitoring and sampling downstream areas while repairs move forward and will issue any required public notices. Residents with questions or concerns are urged to follow official SAWS communications and TCEQ public-notice channels for updates and safety information.
