Crews from the city of Kyle were working in the downtown area Monday after they say rain caused a sewage backup at the East Buffet Chinese restaurant Sunday. 

Harper Wilder, public works director, and his team were in the alley behind the former gun shop turned coffee house.

Over on south Sledge, neighbors noticed raw sewage and pieces of toilet paper bubbling out from a manhole cover in the street Monday morning.

“Several wastewater lines and manholes are inundated right now due to inflow and infiltration (I&I) of rainwater into our wastewater collection system,” Wilder said. “I&I can happen during heavy rains and is not uncommon in other cities.” 

And while the issues seem to be predominantly in the downtown area, Wilder said he is combating it throughout various parts of the city. 

He said the wastewater collection system becomes overloaded when a large amount of rainwater is suddenly introduced into the system through defects in the underground pipes or manholes. The rainwater combines with the normal flow in the line and can overload the system’s ability to drain effectively.  

 Wilder said the Texas Commission for Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is aware that sewage backups may occur during heavy rain events. TCEQ is the regulating authority when dealing with wastewater overflows. Wilder said each overflow event in Kyle is reported directly to that agency.

What is the city doing to alleviate the issue?

For the Chinese restaurant, Wilder said, “We’re trying to help them right now by putting in a check valve in the lines, so if the sewage backs up it wouldn’t go into their establishment.”

A few parts of Kyle have pipes that are about 50 years old.  Some of the old lines are clay and in need of repair. Wilder said replacing existing water and wastewater lines is likely the solution, but that would be a city council decision.