Maintenance crews responding on Sunday to an odor report on the 6100 block of SW Canby Street found that sewage was spilling into Woods Creek, a tributary of Fanno Creek in Southwest Portland.
Crews estimate that about 27,000 gallons were released before they stopped the flow by diverting it to a nearby sewer line. Crews posted warning signs along Wood Creek and nearby Fanno Creek.
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As a precaution, the public is advised to adhere to the warning signs posted at the site and avoid contact with Woods Creek and Fanno Creek in that area for at least 48 hours because of the possibility of increased bacteria in the water.
While this investigation and repairs continue, most sewage releases are caused when pipes are blocked by grease, tree roots or other debris, causing pipes to fail. Environmental Services advises the public not to flush anything other than waste and toilet paper, and to not put anything down storm drains, which are intended for rainfall only.
The City of Portland treats an average of 70 million gallons of wastewater each day. Over one-third of Portland's more than 2,500 miles of sewer pipes are over 80 years old.
Source: Bureau of Environmental Services