This letter is to follow up the verbal report of May 6, 1999 made to you regarding the broken pressure sewer line at the City of Florence Wastewater Treatment Plant. The contractor for the plant construction, in compacting the soil near the new aeration basins, drove a vibratory pipe through an 8" diameter asbestos cement pipe thought to be out of service. Because there were no shut-off valves on this line, Ivy Street pump station had to be shut down and a full circle clamp put around the pipe. In the mean time, Slayden Construction (the contractor) dug pits to allow the sewage to be pumped to the aeration basins. While the temporary repairs were being made at the plant, Ivy Street station backed up and overflowed to the Siuslaw River.

Calls were made to DEQ, OERS, and the local radio station (KCST) advising them of the problem. Warning signs were put up and river sampling started and continued for 5 days following the overflow. A river sampling program had began a month before this occurred and those results along with the results from the past overflow testing are enclosed. Also enclosed is a copy of the spill report for the incident. Deb Cannon with the Dept. of Agriculture put a shellfish harvest restriction in place the afternoon of May 6, that was later lifted on may 10 after review of the coliform results.

A more permanent repair was made by the city public works crew at 4:00 am on May 11, 1999 during which no overflow occurred.

If you have any questions please call mea t (541) 997-2611.

Sincerely,

(Signed) Rick Mumpower, Treatment Plant Supervisor

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Also see: Link to Siuslaw River Coliform Testing Results

To: Roger McCorkle

From: Ken Lanfear

Subject: Sewer Break

Date: May 6, 1999

A sewer pressure line was broken at the treatment plant this AM which resulted in shutting down the Ivy Street pump station, causing bypass from 11:45 am to 4:00 pm, in an estimated amount of 127,500 gallons.

The line that was broken was an abandoned 8" transite line that should have had no flow or pressure. However, it appears that it is still connected into a live line somewhere in the plant or to lines feeding the plant. Steps will be taken to determine where the connection is and sever it.

OARS and media were contacted and postings made. Dept. of Agriculture indicated that they would proceed with a short shellfish advisory. River sampling is proceeding. Full report will follow.