Sanitary Sewer Overflow 1
News release City of Coos Bay. Coos Bay is currently experiencing King Tides, storm surges, and intense rain events. This is causing increased water surface elevations within the bay. Due to these events, the outfall pipe that conveys treated and disinfected sewer effluent to the bay from the City of Coos Bay’s Wastewater Treatment Plant 1 (located at 680 Ivy Avenue) became hydraulically overloaded today between 11 am and 12:10 pm causing 350 gallons of sanitary sewer (treated and disinfected) to overflow from a manhole located adjacent to the Plant at the intersection of Koos Bay Boulevard and N. 6th Street. Since the treated and disinfected 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 and the Oregon Emergency Response System (OERS) were notified of the incident. Any questions can be directed to the City of Coos Bay Public Works Department at 541-269-8918.
Sanitary Sewer Overflow 2
News release City of Coos Bay. January 10, 2017 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 at the intersection of S. 3rd Street and Anderson Avenue. The sanitary sewer overflow totaled 2,700 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 at (541) 269-8918.