A sewage release occurred today at the City of Portland’s Columbia Boulevard Wastewater Treatment Plant as crews were repairing a deteriorated pipe, and crews estimate that a portion of the flow reached the Columbia Slough near a popular pedestrian and bicycling bridge.
The Columbia Slough Trail bridge, also known as the Peninsula Crossing bridge, remains open and unaffected. The public is advised to avoid contact with the waters of the slough near that bridge for 48 hours due to increased bacteria.
Crews were installing a new sewer line at the plant at 5001 N Columbia Boulevardwhen a portion of the old pipe broke. The breakage occurred at 10:25 a.m. and crews stopped the flow within 20 minutes. Additional repairs are ongoing.
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. @BESPortland