Due to the combination of high ground water and the latest rain event, the Escanaba Wastewater Department was forced to initiate a partially treated wastewater by-pass into the receiving waters of Little Bay de Noc on Monday, December 30th. The city did not say how many gallons of water were sent into the bay this time. It was dine several times over the past two years, but this is the first time that it has had to be done in the winter. The city is in the planning process for a major expansion of the wastewater treatment plant to be able to handle the extra capacity.