90,000 Gallons Of Sewage Released Into Woods Creek After Second Spill This Week

PORTLAND, OR — A second spill in the Maplewood neighborhood this week released an additional 90,000 gallons of sewage into Woods Creek, according to Portland Bureau of Environmental Services officials.

A tributary of Fanno Creek, 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.

Bureau spokeswoman Taffy Spencer said the second spill emanated from a manhole near 7320 S.W. 69th Ave., along the city's Fanno Basin Pressure Line improvement project, on July 13. The spill was the result of a work crew error, Spencer said, noting a drain line had been left open by mistake.

The valve was closed by 5:45 p.m. Thursday, but not until after nearly 100,000 gallons of sewage leaked out.

Previously, a privately owned water pipe mistakingly connected to a sewer pipe released 27,000 gallons of sewage into Woods Creek, near the 6100-block of Southwest Canby Street on Monday.

The two spills occurred within one mile of each other but were in no way related, Spencer said.

Warning signs in the area once again caution nearby residents to avoid contact with Woods Creek for at least 48 hours due to possible bacteria contamination, Spencer said.

From the Bureau of Environmental Services:

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.

The accidental release will not affect swimming in the Willamette River or the Big Float 7 event scheduled for Saturday, July 15.

This post has been updated to include additional information detailing the cause of the spill.

Photo Courtesy: Portland Bureau of Environmental Services