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The Origin Story of Coal Tar Sealer Bans: A Retrospective

The following video is a retrospective look at a time when City of Austin staff were presented with a career-challenging task to address media claims of toxic waters in Austin. It led to closing Barton Springs Pool on closed January 19, 2003. This story was filmed on the 20th anniversary of re-opening the pool 90 days later after a lot of community and media attention was accompanied by thorough scientific investigation. Three primary participants in that effort for the City were interviewed: Spill Investigator Oscar Garza, Geologist David Johns, and Biologist Mateo Scoggins. At one time more than 25 staff were involved. Listen to their stories and hear what they learned about problem-solving, teamwork, trust and media relations. Facilitating the interview is Sustainability Officer Tom Ennis, who helped get the ban passed and implemented 2 years later. Background: For more than 100 years Barton Springs has been known as the “Soul of Austin” because residents have long sought relief from tortuous summer heat in the refreshing, 68 to 70 degree waters in this spring-fed pool. Barton Springs Pool is one of our nation’s treasured, natural swimming holes; where nearly 800,000 people visit annually. However the pool was closed in January 2003 after the local paper printed an expose that became known as “Toxic Waters.” The local paper consulted with leading national experts about the contamination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) which were found in and near Barton Springs Pool. The headline screamed “Toxic Chemicals Taint Barton Creek”. Leading experts said the only way to get such high readings were from hazardous waste and that the source must be an old dump nearby. The City Manager, Toby Futrell, closed the Pool for 90 days to investigate. The findings of those staff at that time, along with national experts in water quality, led to the nation’s first ban of coal tar pavement sealers