Contaminated water blamed in deaths of 650 Texas cattle

A federal lawsuit accuses the City of Shamrock, Texas, of providing contaminated water that led to the death of 650 cattle owned by Kellen Allison Cattle Company. The company is suing the city and several petroleum producers for damages exceeding $1 million.

According to the lawsuit, the cattle operation began using city water on June 3, and the cattle exhibited severe symptoms almost immediately. The affected cows reportedly started vomiting, displayed “zombie-like” behavior, and some even suffocated against fences.

The grow yard — which has historically experienced a low death rate of 3 percent or less — faced an unprecedented 40 percent death loss within a two-month span. The feed yard says that the events have been traced back to the use of water sourced from a municipal pipeline that traversed contaminated property previously owned and managed by Ashland Oil Inc. and later transferred to Aztec Oil Inc., West Texas Gas Utility, and its subsidiary, Davis.

Kellen Allison and Tallis Allison, residents of Wheeler, Texas, who oversee the cattle operations, claimed their own wells experienced a sudden depletion, necessitating an emergency connection to the municipal water line. However, soon after city officials assured them of the water’s suitability, the owners said the cattle began exhibiting alarming symptoms, including vomiting, erratic behavior, and asphyxiation.

The grow yard also states in the suit that subsequent testing of water samples revealed toxic sulfate levels exceeding 1,000 parts per million, far beyond what is considered safe for livestock. Veterinarian reports confirmed that the symptoms were consistent with sulfate poisoning. The contaminated water left in troughs appeared discolored and foul-smelling, contributing to the rapid decline in the health of the animals.

Plaintiffs allege that the contamination originated from a former carbon black facility south of the grow yard, which had left environmental pollutants in the soil, including sulfate. The defendants, they argue, failed to properly maintain and test the water pipeline, resulting in severe financial and reputational damage to the plaintiffs.

The lawsuit accuses the defendants of negligence, nuisance, and breach of contract. The City of Shamrock is specifically charged with failing to notify the plaintiffs about potential hazards associated with the water line, despite an agreement to do so as stipulated in their contract. The suit also invokes the legal principle of res ipsa loquitur, arguing that the sheer nature of the incident points to negligence on the part of the involved parties.

Plaintiffs are seeking damages for the loss of livestock, business disruption, veterinary costs, and reputational harm. They argue that these damages were exacerbated by gross negligence on the part of the defendants, warranting a claim for exemplary damages.

The City of Shamrock has not publicly responded to the lawsuit or its allegations.