Second sewer overflow of week spills almost 900 gallons into Glenn Creek
A sewer blockage Wednesday night led to almost 900 gallons of raw sewage spilling into Glenn Creek in West Salem.
In a statement released Thursday morning, the city said the overflow happened little after 9 p.m. following a blockage in a sewer line. The statement did not say what caused the blockage.
The overflow led to 875 gallons of raw sewage spilling into Glenn Creek, which flows from Orchard Heights park to the Willamette River. The city warned residents in the area to avoid contact with water in Glenn Creek due to potentially high levels of bacteria
City work crews arrived at the overflow site near 918 Creek Ct. N.W. soon after it was reported and cleared the blockage by midnight, the statement said.
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 Glenn Creek in the next few days, the statement said.
This is the second sewer spill in Salem this week and the fourth in two months. The spills have ranged in size from 875 gallons Wednesday to 19 million gallons in late December.
On Monday, over 2,000 gallons of raw sewage spilled into Waln Creek in south Salem due to unknown sewer line blockage. Earlier this month, a grease blockage led to over 3,500 gallons of raw sewage spilling into Gibson Creek in West Salem.
Anyone who sees an overflowing manhole or spill is encouraged to call the city’s Public Works Department Dispatch Center at 503-588-6311.
Contact reporter Madeleine Moore: [email protected].
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Madeleine Moore joined Salem Reporter in 2024 and reports on a variety of topics including public safety, addiction, treatment and the criminal justice system. She came to Salem after graduating from the University of Oregon in June 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism.
