Corvallis dumps 37 million gallons of sewage into the Willamette River

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has fined the city of Corvallis $25,800 for discharging untreated sewage into the Willamette River.

Twice last year, heavy rains overwhelmed the city’s sewage treatment system, located about 40 miles upstream from Salem.

For about 7.5 hours on March 14, 2017, the city sent about 33 million gallons of untreated sewage and stormwater into the Willamette.

Before the overflow, an alarm indicated the overflow was imminent, but city workers disregarded the warning.

The city also failed to orally report the March overflow within 24 hours as required by its permit. Corvallis orally reported the overflow to DEQ and the Oregon Emergency Response System on March 17.

And it failed to report the overflow in writing to DEQ within five days as required. The city submitted the written report on March 22.

On October 22, 2017, the city released about 4 million gallons of untreated sewage and stormwater into the Willamette after city workers failed to properly test new equipment.

Since the overflows, the city has taken steps to improve employee training, DEQ officials said in announcing the fine Thursday.

Sewage can pollute water, harming aquatic life and render public waters unsafe for human consumption, recreation and commercial or agricultural use. It also threatens public health through direct human contact or through contact with insects that have been in the sewage.

Some cities, including Corvallis, Adair Village, Wilsonville and Sherwood, draw drinking water from the Willamette River. Salem has water rights on the Willamette, but currently draws its drinking water from the North Santiam River.

Corvallis had no previous violations, DEQ officials said. It has until Jan. 29 to appeal the fine.

Corvallis City Manager Mark Shepard could not be reached for comment Thursday afternoon.

tloew@statesmanjournal.com, 503-399-6779 or follow at Twitter.com/Tracy_Loew

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