Accidental Spill Releases 27,000 Gallons Of Sewage Into Southwest Portland Creek

PORTLAND, OR — An estimated 27,000 gallons of raw sewage spilled from a privately owned pipe into a Southwest Portland creek Monday, prompting Portland Environmental Services officials to issue a warning to avoid the area for 48 hours.

While the pipe was meant to only carry rainwater, officials said in a statement Thursday, it appears the private sewage pipe was mistakingly connected. Warning signs to stay clear of the area remain posted along both Woods and Fanno creeks, officials said, noting that the public should avoid contact with the creeks due to the possibility of increased bacteria in the water.

Responding to reports of an odor around the 6100-block of Southwest Canby Street on Monday, sewer maintenance crews found the sewage spilling into Woods Creek, a tributary of Fanno Creek, officials said, noting that nearly 30,000 gallons were released before they were able to stop the leak. April Hill Park and the nearby nature trail are not affected and remain open to the public, officials said.

Woods Creek flows from the Portland Golf Club at 5900 S.W. Scholls Ferry Rd. to the Woods Memorial Natural Area off Southwest Barbur Boulevard at 9550 S.W. Wood Pkwy.

Investigators have not yet released a cause for the spill, but officials did release this statement:

Most sewage overflows are caused by blockages. Pipes that fail or become blocked with grease, tree roots, and debris can cause sewage overflows. 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.

This sewage overflow is not related to the City of Portland's combined sewer overflow control system that protects water quality in the Willamette River and Columbia Slough.

Photo Courtesy: Portland Bureau of Environmental Services