Member Update: NBU Rio Bar Screen Facility Sewage Spill

Summary & Full Q&A with New Braunfels Utilities

Dear PLDA Members,

Thank you for your continued care for Lake Dunlap. We're writing to share an important update on the May 27, 2026 sanitary sewer overflow at New Braunfels Utilities' (NBU) Rio Bar Screen Facility located at 470 Rio Drive, along with the complete set of questions PLDA posed to NBU and the answers their leadership provided (attached).

At the outset, we want to be candid: PLDA was deeply concerned to learn of the release of approximately 550,000 gallons of raw sewage into Lake Dunlap, and by the gap in communication the Lake Dunlap community experienced after the initial notifications. At the same time, we're encouraged by NBU's willingness to answer our questions in detail, and we want to share what we've learned.

What happened (timeline)

During a severe overnight storm on May 27, a lightning strike took one of the facility's two power sources offline while the second was down for previously scheduled maintenance, and the backup alarm did not alert NBU crews as intended. The result was a release of roughly 550,000 gallons of untreated wastewater into the Guadalupe River / Lake Dunlap. NBU crews responded to the event the same day, completed cleanup, and conducted water sampling on May 27 and 28.

The facts

Peak E. coli readings at the spill site on May 27 were substantial — about 90 times the EPA standard and 168 times the Texas standard. NBU notes that upstream and downstream samples that day were at comparable levels, attributing much of the elevation to stormwater runoff during the heavy rain. Sampling 24 hours later showed a roughly 93% reduction, and NBU reported no fish kill or observed harm to aquatic life. The full data and NBU's explanation are in the attachment.

Was it reported accurately and on time?

In substance, NBU's account of the cause and response has been consistent throughout. TCEQ's lead investigator confirmed to PLDA that NBU met the permitting and reporting requirements tied to the incident, and that Texas Parks & Wildlife worked alongside NBU on the spill. TCEQ issued a Notice of Violation on July 14, 2026 for the unauthorized discharge, with no monetary penalty, and considers its investigation resolved upon NBU's completion of corrective actions. NBU also acknowledged opportunities to improve its notification process going forward.

PLDA's inquiry and how it lined up

PLDA acted quickly. We gathered initial information and communicated with our members, lakefront neighbors, the Lake Dunlap WCID, GBRA, and New Braunfels City Council (including Mayor-elect Michael French), and once NBU's initial information was available we re-shared it with members and on social media. We also submitted a formal Texas Public Information Act request to TCEQ on May 29, 2026. The records TCEQ provided, and the answers NBU has now given us, align closely with our own independent analysis — on the cause, the volume, the water-quality data, and the response timeline.

Staying engaged going forward

After the community received no further NBU communication following May 29, PLDA escalated our effort by meeting with NBU's Board of Trustees, CEO, and COO on June 25, 2026. We're grateful NBU took the time to answer our questions thoroughly. NBU has installed new backup power (UPS) systems and committed to a series of corrective actions with target completion dates over the coming months. We look forward to following up with NBU leadership on a few remaining details, on communication improvements, and on those outstanding action items as their deadlines arrive.

The linked document contains the full exchange — the exact questions PLDA asked and NBU's complete responses — so you can review the details for yourself.

We'll keep you informed as this work continues. As always, thank you for being part of protecting the lake we all love.

PLDA Board of Directors