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Showers drag sewage into Willamette, Little Pudding rivers

A truck sends water flying while driving through water overflowing the road’s surface by Mill Creek. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)

Heavy rain that started in the Salem area this weekend brought raw sewage into the Willamette and Little Pudding rivers.

In a Monday afternoon press release, the city of Salem said the combination of recent showers and excess water in soil caused the overflow.

Diluted raw sewage discharged starting at 6:23 a.m. from Union and Church Street, and from 1990 Wallace Road NW starting 11:03 a.m. The press release said the amount discharged is “yet to be determined” because it was continuing when the announcement was issued.

More discharge came from a sewage manhole at Northeast Glendale Avenue starting 9:21 a.m. to the west fork of Little Pudding from inside the city. The amount discharged hasn’t yet been determined.

“When the ground becomes saturated, groundwater enters the sanitary sewer from cracks and holes in pipes in addition to footing drains and other sources of extraneous water from private property,” the press release said. “When this occurs, the ability of the sewer system to transport sewerage to the water pollution control facility is exceeded and the system becomes surcharged. When these conditions become severe enough, the system relives itself via the authorized relief locations.”

The press release said warning signs are being posted about avoiding contact with water in Willamette River “due to potentially high levels of bacteria,” and they will be removed once bacteria levels are back to normal.

-Ardeshir Tabrizian