City maintenance crews have raced against time after a sewage release was reported on NE Meadow Drive and NE 13th Ave yesterday, prompting a public health advisory. According to the City of Portland, the overflow began around 3:30 pm and was caused by an equipment failure at a nearby pump station. Approximately 500 gallons of sewage were estimated to have spilled, with some entering the Columbia Slough drainage ditches, necessitating warnings for the public to steer clear of the water until Saturday afternoon.
The response was swift, and by now the spill has been contained. Environmental Services have placed warning signs and urge the public, to avoid contact with the affected Columbia Slough drainage ditches as a bacteria increase is likely. The area has seen cleaning efforts, and service fully restored, with attention turning towards prevention. "Most sewage releases are preventable," said the city's Environmental Services, as per the City of Portland.
The root of the problem is often domestic, things that should not find their way down our drains. Environmental Services provided clear guidelines on how to avoid such incidents: flush only human waste and toilet paper, never pour grease down the kitchen drain, and remember that storm drains are just for rainfall, as detailed by the City of Portland. For those encountering or spotting a sewer overflow, the City maintains a round-the-clock hotline at 503-823-1700.
