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This photo is taken standing at the north edge of Waverly Country Club looking slightly north and west across the Willamette River. Powers Marine Park is directly across the river.

(The Oregonian/File)

A faulty pipe valve released about 600 gallons of sewage in Southwest Portland, some of it likely flowing on to the Willamette River.

The city's environmental services bureau reported the leak Saturday morning. It advised residents to avoid contact with the river in the area south of downtown because of the possibility of bacterial infection.

The leak occurred near the intersection of Southwest Carey Lane and Southwest Riverside Drive. The released sewage flowed into a grassy area, then into a catch basin that drains into the Willamette a mile south of the Sellwood Bridge.

Maintenance crews sealed the leak around 7 p.m. on Friday.

-- Elliot Njus

enjus@oregonian.com

503-294-5034

@enjus