Sanitary Sewage Release Advisory

(this is not a combined sewer overflow [CSO] advisory)

(April 2, 2017) - Sewer maintenance crews responded this afternoon to a report of sewage flowing from a manhole on a residential property on SW Illinois Street near SW 33rd Place. About 675 gallons spilled onto the street and into a storm drain that connects to Fanno Creek.  

Crews repaired the blocked sewer within two hours of receiving the report and determined that tree roots had caused the blockage. 

As a precaution, the public is advised to adhere to the warning signs posted at the site and avoid contact with Fanno Creek in that area for at least 48 hours because of the possibility of increased bacteria in the water. 

This is the second sewage overflow this weekend. Pipes that become blocked with grease, tree roots, and debris are the most common cause of sewage overflows. Environmental Services advises the public not to flush anything other than waste and toilet paper, and to not put anything down storm drains, which are intended for rainfall only. 

 The City of Portland treats an average of 70 million gallons of wastewater each day. Over one-third of Portland’s more than 2,500 miles of sewer pipes are over 80 years old. This weekend's sewage overflows  are not related to the City of Portland's combined sewer overflow control system.