Hundreds of thousands of gallons of wastewater were spilled Thursday morning near a Bull Creek tributary when an alarmed failed in Northwest Austin.

Austin Water Utility officials say the alarm failed to go off at a lift station on Old Lampasas Trail Thursday morning, and 314,000 gallons of wastewater spilled.

The lift station was repaired and crews were cleaning up the spill.

Officials say it should not affect the public drinking water supply, but those residents who have private wells should boil their water until they can have their water tested.

People and their animals should also avoid the creek until cleanup is complete.