On Friday evening, December 18, 2015 the City of Coos Bay experienced a sanitary sewer overflow. The overflow was caused by a blockage in the system. 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 along the southbound Highway 101 (adjacent to 1001 N. Bayshore Drive). The sanitary sewer overflow totaled 2,400 gallons and 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. 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. The telephone number for the department is (541) 269-8918.
