CB Sanitary Sewer Overflow, Aug. 13

When the city’s wastewater contract operator started work at Plant 1 (680 Ivy Street) at 6:30 am Monday morning, Aug. 12, water along Ivy Street was observed.  The operator traced the water to a broken discharge line within the plant.  The operator immediately turned off the water and stopped the discharge.  The discharge was treated effluent, but it was estimated that 7,200 gallons were released to the storm drain system and ultimately to the bay.  Upon investigation, it was determined that a sump pump was out of service.  If the pump had been operating, this water would have been pumped back into the treatment plant and not the storm drain system.  Since the treated effluent did not discharge at the approved outfall location in the Bay, the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) requires the city to report this as an overflow.  As a result, DEQ, the Oregon Emergency Response System (OERS), and the Department of Agriculture were notified of the incident.  Any questions can be directed to the City of Coos Bay Public Works Department at 541-269-8918.