Ullrich Water Treatment Plant Maintenance Project Update: Feb. 9, 2021
Austin Water began a maintenance project to descale and clean one of the water basins the week of Jan. 25. The work is part of an annual maintenance program and is necessary to maintain the basin and to ensure we continue to provide high quality drinking water to our customers.
High-pressure washers used for the cleaning, which are the only effective equipment for this job, are producing noise that has been disruptive to adjacent neighbors.
In response to feedback from neighbors, Austin Water is taking additional steps. First, staff is taking regular noise level readings to ensure the noise at the property line is meeting local code requirements. Additionally, plant staff built a noise barrier approximately 10 feet x 40 feet around the equipment at ground level using scaffolding and plywood. Staff will take additional noise readings to determine if the barrier will help reduce the sound levels leaving the plant site.
We expect the cleaning of this basin will be completed before the end of February. Austin Water will provide updates when additional basins are scheduled for cleaning in the future and will continue to find ways to mitigate sound for this essential maintenance work.
For more information see: http://austintexas.gov/ullrich