(July 10, 2020) – An electrical failure at an Environmental Services pump station at 6809 NE 59th Place last night led to a sewage overflow that reached the Columbia Slough.

Untreated sewage from the pump station overflowed onto a private industrial property parking lot and then via storm drains to the Columbia Slough.

The release began late last night and was stopped this morning around 7 a.m. City crews cleaned up residue on the private parking lot and the storm drains. An unknown amount of sewage reached the slough.

The public is advised to avoid contact with the slough for about 48 hours between NE 63rd and 47th avenues due to increased bacteria in the water.

Environmental Services operates 98 pump stations that work together with the City’s network of sewer pipes to send sewage to the City’s main wastewater treatment plant on Columbia Boulevard. The treatment plant operates 24/7 to manage waste from more than 600,000 households.

The Bureau of Environmental Services provides city residents with programs to protect water quality and public health, including wastewater collection and treatment, sewer construction and maintenance, stormwater management, and stream and watershed restoration. www.portlandoregon.gov/bes and @BESPortland.