News Release

October 24, 2014

A faulty air pressure valve on a pipeline that carries treated effluent from the Columbia Boulevard Wastewater Treatment Plant to the Columbia River malfunctioned on Wednesday, October 22 and released treated effluent into the Columbia Slough. Engineers discovered the problem and repaired the valve on Thursday, October 23 to stop the effluent release.

The Columbia Boulevard plant cleans about 25 billion gallons of wastewater annually and discharges treated, disinfected water to the Columbia River. The malfunctioning valve released an estimated 300,000 gallons of fully treated, disinfected effluent into the Columbia Slough before engineers repaired it on Thursday afternoon.

Because the slough is a slow-moving waterway and is much smaller than the Columbia River, the public should avoid contact with water in the slough in the area around N Portland Road through tomorrow afternoon.

For more information contact Linc Mann, 503-823-5328.

The Bureau of Environmental Services provides city residents with Clean River programs including, water quality protection, wastewater collection and treatment, and sewer installation.

-30-