On Sunday, March 27, 2016, the City of Coos Bay experienced a sanitary sewer overflow. The overflow was caused by a blockage in the system. This blockage was due to concrete bricks and rags (“rags” can consist of diapers and other toiletry type materials). It is not known how or where these brick entered into the system. During the winter months, the increased rainfall impacts the sanitary sewer system because of inflow and infiltration (ground water leaking into the system). The blockage in the system combined with the increased flows resulted in sewer backing up and overflowing at a manhole along Neese Street between Wallace Street and Radar Road. The SSO lasted approximately 50 minutes from 1:45 pm to 2:35 pm. The sanitary sewer overflow totaled 500 gallons, and it was reported to Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Oregon Emergency Response System, and Oregon Department of Agriculture. When the blockage was cleared from the sanitary sewer line, the overflow ceased. Blockages in sanitary sewer systems can be caused for a number of reasons. However, most blockages are due to items and material that do not belong in the sewer. Personal items (dental floss, personal care products, razor blades, plastic gloves, etc.) and fats, oil, and grease (FOG) that are animal and vegetable-based enter into the system and can cause blockages. Additional, private cleanouts that are not capped properly or capped at all can allow foreign items to enter the sanitary sewer system. Eliminating the introduction of these items to the sanitary sewer system can reduce the number of blockages and ultimately reduce the potential for future sanitary sewer overflows. Any questions can be directed to the City of Coos Bay Public Works Department at (541) 269-8918.
