By Scott Harvey
Commerce – Commerce Police are investigating a reported break-in at the city's water treatment plant that resulting in gallons of raw sewage being dumped into a local creek.
The incident occurred sometime Monday evening.
A broken valve led to the sewage spill, which dumped into an unnamed tributary of the Sulphur River, which feeds Cooper Lake. It was unclear of how many gallons actually spilled into the creek or how much of the waste will be diluted.
By law, the city has contacted the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Cooper Lake provides water supply storage for the North Texas Municipal Water District and the Sulphur River Municipal Water District.