Sewer blockage causes over 2,000 gallons of raw sewage to spill into Waln Creek
A sewer blockage Sunday afternoon led to over 2,000 gallons of raw sewage spilling into Waln Creek in south Salem.
The city released a statement late Monday morning announcing the overflow but did not specify what led to the blockage.
The overflow happened around noon Sunday at 5225 Lone Oak Rd. S.E. and the city dispatched utility crews to the site. Crews cleared the blockage by 3:20 p.m. the statement said.
The overflow led to 2,010 gallons of raw sewage spilling into Waln Creek, which flows from Secor Park to Southeast Commercial Street. Residents in the area have been warned to avoid contact with the creek water due to potentially high levels of bacteria.
City crews will take water samples to test bacteria levels until test results prove the water is safe. Remaining bacteria should be flushed out of Waln Creek in the next few days, the statement said.
After heavy rain fell over the weekend, Salem is under a flood watch through Tuesday. Local creeks, like Waln Creek, are running high but expected to stay below flood levels, according to city spokeswoman Courtney Knox Busch.
This spill is the third in just under two months. Less than two weeks ago, a grease blockage led to over 3,500 gallons of raw sewage spilling into Gibson Creek. In late December, multiple line breaks caused a large sewer spill which led to 19 million gallons of sewage spilling into the Willamette River.
In its new strategic plan published this year, the Public Works Department made reducing sewer overflows a priority for the next several years. The plan said that reducing overflows could be accomplished by upgrading infrastructure and developing an improved tracking system.
If people see an overflowing manhole or sewer spill, report it by calling the city’s Public Works Department Dispatch Center at 503-588-6311.
Contact reporter Madeleine Moore: [email protected].
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Madeleine Moore came to Salem after graduating from the University of Oregon in June 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. She covers addiction and recovery, transportation and infrastructure.
