Park shuts off water to make repairs

AUSTIN (KXAN) - People who like to camp at Emma Long Metropolitan Park are going to have to bring their own water.  The park’s water treatment plant is getting a makeover and in order to do so, the park has to turn off all the water.

“There’s nothing wrong with the water. It’s just the fact that the plant that processes it needs repair,” said Patrick Tate, Northwest district park ground supervisor. “There will be no showers in the park, there will be no water fountains, drinking water, so anybody who wants to camp we’re still open. We’re just letting people know if you’re coming out you need to bring water with you. ”

In April the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality   sent a letter to the Park and Recreation Department (PARD) saying the Water Treatment Plant needed repairs, along with the storage tank. 

TCEQ Inspection :

•  Ground Storage Tank – Heavy corrosion on interior and exterior wall
•   Flocculation/Clarification Tank – Basin corrosion on interior walls and weirs of the flocculation/ clarification basin
•  Filter Effluent Lines – Peeled Paint off of Filter effluent lines
•  55-gallon Chemical Storage Tanks – No containment system for items.

In order to make these repairs, the park says it has to shut off the water and drain its 50,000 gallon storage tank. Park water will be shut off until March 15. 

Officials said they do not tap into city water and rely on the Water Treatment Plant to process water for campers to use.  They said right now is the best time to fix the problems before the peak season.

“This is a beautiful park guys anybody who doesn’t know about this park needs to come out and see it, after March,” joked camper Candace Shoup. 

She and her husband, Mike, are from Arkansas and travel around the country to different parks in their camper named Candy Land.

The Shoups' left on Monday, but said if they had to rely on their camper for all their water needs, it could be difficult.

“It wouldn’t last the five days it might last four days if we were careful, but you know if you take a shower everyday, you’re using a lot of water,” explained Shoup.

There are portable restrooms set up along the 1,142-acre site.

It’s been a while since the aging tank has seen repairs.

It was built in 1985.  Tate said the park is in need of many other repairs and hopes the 2012 bond package that passed in November will help with that

He said things are constantly breaking and that he hopes to see dramatic improvements in the next couple of years.

We keep putting band aids on stuff we’ll put a patch in here we’ll replace a section of pipe here or put another faucet here,” explained Tate.  “It’s just band aids and at some point you cant keep putting a band aid on an open wound you know  you’re just going to have to do some surgery and fix it so we’re getting close to that point. ”

According to the Capital Planning Office website , there’s $77.68 million in bonds for park and recreation improvements.

Emma Long Metropolitan Park is one of the nine parks ear marked to receive money for improvements such as infrastructure, picnic and play equipment, equipment landscapes and trails.