CB Sanitary Sewer Overflow, Nov. 23

News release City of Coos Bay.  Wednesday morning, November 22, 2017, the City received a phone call from a citizen stating that a manhole was overflowing at the intersection of 7th Avenue and H Street in the Eastside area.  The City’s crews arrived at the site within 20 minutes of receiving the phone call.  No visible overflow was observed; however, it had recently rained.  The crew proceeded to clean the lines and discovered a blockage in the system.  The blockage was comprised of rags and grease that was limiting flow in the pipe. Currently, Coos Bay is experiencing significant rainfall events.  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 at 7th Avenue and H Street.  It is not known how long this was occurring; but based on the time in which the City received the information and was on site, it was assumed that potentially 85 gallons spilled.  This spill was reported to Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Oregon Emergency Response System and Oregon Department of Agriculture. 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, can cause blockages.  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. Our City Council is aware that FOG can impact the sewer system, and they are working on a FOG prevention program.  This program is anticipated to be adopted next year.  This program will be aimed at establishments that prepare food.  The goal of this program will be to work with owners of these establishments and help them figure out ways to reduce the introduction of FOG to the sewer system.  More on that will follow in the upcoming months.  Any questions can be directed to the Coos Bay Public Works & Community Development Department at (541) 269-8918.