City News

City detects high E. coli levels in discharge to Willamette River

The city of Salem detected bacteria results higher than normal in a sample taken Wednesday from a Keizer facility that discharges treated sewage to the Willamette River.

The city received test results for the sample Thursday, according to a news release.

Until the results are confirmed, people should avoid the Willamette River between Spongs Landing Park, a county park in Keizer, and Willamette Mission Park, a state park in north Marion County.

The sample was collected at 5:30 a.m. Wednesday during routine monitoring of treated sewage from the Willow Lake Water Pollution Control Facility.

The city treats wastewater and discharges treated sewage to the Willamette River at the facility in Keizer at 5915 Windsor Island Road N. 

The city is doing additional sampling and testing to verify the test results, to be completed Friday with test results available by Saturday.

Contact reporter Ardeshir Tabrizian: [email protected] or 503-929-3053.

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Ardeshir Tabrizian has covered criminal justice and housing for Salem Reporter since September 2021. As an Oregon native, his award-winning watchdog journalism has traversed the state. He has done reporting for The Oregonian, Eugene Weekly and Malheur Enterprise.