Sanitary Sewer Overflow, April 3

The city has contracted with Laskey Clifton Corporation to upgrade the pump station located at the intersection of 6th Avenue and F Street in the Eastside area. The pump station project includes new pumps, generator, and a pump house. Because a sewer pump station must remain operable 24 hours a day and seven days a week (even when it is under construction), when the contractor has to install new pumps, they have to temporarily bypass the flows around the pump station for the duration of this work. Last night around 8:00 p.m. the city was notified of sewerage exiting a manhole along 4th Avenue and D Street. The city’s wastewater contract operator quickly investigated and determined the temporary pump, that was bypassing the flows, was pumping too much flow and the collection system could not handle it. While crews were dispatched immediately and they resolved the issue before 9:00 pm, it was estimated 27,000 gallons spilled and entered Isthmus Slough. Because the sewerage was released at a location that was not permitted, the Department of Environmental Quality requires this event to be classified as a Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSO) and the Oregon Emergency Response System was notified. The contractor has turned down the pump and reduced the volume of sewerage entering the collection system. Continuous monitoring has been performed and no additional spills have been reported. Any questions can be directed to the City of Coos Bay Public Works Department. The telephone number for the department is (541) 269-8918.