City crews responded Wednesday night to a report of sewage flowing onto SE 82nd Ave between SE Division St and SE Harrison St. Field crews estimated that 400 gallons of sewage flowed onto 82nd Ave.
The area was temporarily closed to traffic while crews accessed and addressed the overflow. Maintenance crews cleared a sewer line blockage to stop the sewage release. The release was reported at 11 p.m. and was stopped at 12:15 a.m. Thursday morning. Crews worked through the night to restore sewer service, disinfect the right of way, and reopen the area to the public in time for the morning commute.
The cause of this incident was a grease plug obstructing the sanitary sewer main. Sewage overflows often are preventable. Pipes that become blocked with grease, tree roots, and debris are the most common cause of sewage overflows.
Environmental Services advises the public to prevent clogs and protect public health, property, and our environment by following these tips:
- Place grease in a container and then in the trash, not down kitchen drains. Food establishments are required to take additional measures to prevent grease from entering sewer lines.
- Avoid flushing rags or wipes or anything other than toilet paper and human waste.
- Outside the home, avoid pouring 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. More than one-third of Portland’s more than 2,500 miles of sewer pipes are over 80 years old. Pipes that fail or become blocked with grease, tree roots, and debris can cause sewage overflows.
To report sewage odors, which may indicate a sewage release, call the City’s maintenance hotline at 503-823-1700. That line is operated all hours, all days.
The Bureau of Environmental Services provides city residents with programs to protect water quality and public health, including wastewater collection and treatment, sewer construction and maintenance, stormwater management, and stream and watershed restoration. www.portland.gov/bes and @BESPortland.