Zebra mussels take over Texas city’s freshwater systems, officials say

For quite some time, invasive zebra mussels, roughly an inch and a half big, have caused massive problems for cities across Texas. The City of Midland is the latest to deal with the zebra mussels after the species made their way to West Texas through freshwater systems, according to CBS7.

Zebra mussels are one of the most problematic aquatic invasive species in the state, as they put native fisheries at risk and can coat and clog water infrastructure, such as pipes, causing millions of dollars in damage, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

The City of Midland is taking action after zebra mussels disrupted the local water supply, according to CBS7. Officials told the news station the local water comes from the lake and the species are clinging to pipelines and pump mechanisms hindering water flow and system efficiency. 

“They will attach to the inside of pipelines and to the bottom side of pumps, lowering the capacity of water pulling through pipelines and the water pumping that each pump can do. It lowers the amount of water we can actually put through our system,” Carl Craigo, the utilities director for the City of Midland, told the station.

Officials said they are using three different chemicals to help treat the water. They are conducting daily testing to ensure copper levels remain within acceptable limits. 

Zebra mussels were first found in Texas in 2009 in Lake Texoma, according to the TPWD, Zebra mussels are currently found in lakes and rivers in seven river basins across the state, including the Red, Trinity, Brazos, Colorado, Guadalupe, San Antonio, and Rio Grande river basins, according to TPWD.