KALAMAZOO

— Vandalism is being blamed for spilling an estimated 600,000 gallons of raw sewage into a wetlands area in northeastern Kalamazoo.

A health official said the spill, while significant, is not likely to cause long-term environmental damage.

for people to avoid all contact with wetlands, Averill Lake, Spring Valley Lake, and connecting streams in the area north of Gull Road and west of Nazareth Road.

A 21-inch sewer line was blocked, causing a manhole to overflow and release the untreated sewage, a news release from the county said.

City workers removed the blockage, which stopped the spill.

The Kalamazoo Gazette was unable to reach city Public Services officials for comment Thursday night, but Deb Cardiff, environmental health director for the county, said she was told they estimate the sewage likely was spilling for a period of about 20 to 24 hours.

“It’s definitely a significant amount of raw sewage,” Cardiff said. “Where the sewer overflow occurred is in an area that is predominantly a wetland area.”

The property where the sewage leaked was recently given to the Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy by the Sisters of St. Joseph, whose Nazareth complex is nearby, according to Cardiff.

She said restoration work has been taking place on the 60-acre Bow in the Clouds Preserve, including clearing trees.

Apparently, a manhole cover was removed and logs the size that would be burned in a fireplace were dropped into the manhole, she said.

The sewage leaked near a creek the goes under Brook Drive and feeds into Averill Lake then southwest to Spring Valley Lake, home to the city’s 185-acre Spring Valley Park.

”This is something that would probably typically cleanse itself over time,” Cardiff said of the environmental effects. She noted that this is a typically rainy time of year, which will help dilute the sewage.

Cardiff said most residences in that area get drinking water from the city water system. “There should be no concern for municipal water” or for any wells that may be in the surrounding area, she said of the leak.

Water samples were taken in the area Thursday and more will be taken today and as far into the future as necessary, Cardiff said. The county’s health advisory will remain in effect until water sampling shows that it is safe to be in contact with the water.

Contact Ed Finnerty at efinnerty@kalamazoogazette.com or 269-388-8551. Gazette reporter Alex Nixon contributed to this report.