For immediate release
Helicopter to help repair sewer system near TV Highway in Hillsboro
Hillsboro, OR — December 27, 2006 —
Nearly two weeks of heavy rainfall, a windstorm, and multiple power outages have overburdened the sanitary sewer system in western Washington County. Crews from Clean Water Services have been working around the clock since December 16 to identify and correct problems, some of which have been too dangerous for them to repair. A 1,200-pound cover is dislodged from a manhole cone on the 72” interceptor in Rock Creek north of Tualatin Valley Highway, and the manhole is taking in approximately 40 million gallons of creek water per day into the sanitary sewer system.
Clean Water Services hired specialists in underwater emergency repairs to assess the situation and contracted with Columbia Helicopter to assist with the repair. Weather permitting, from noon to 2 p.m. on Thursday, December 28, a Chinook 234 helicopter will lift an 8 ½ foot length of 12-foot diameter steel culvert and lower it into place around the manhole cone. Then water will be pumped out to make the manhole accessible for repair. Area residents and travelers on Tualatin Valley Highway near Valley Memorial Park Cemetery and Dick’s MacKenzie Ford are advised to expect noise during the hour or so the helicopter is working.
The Rock Creek Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant is designed to clean a peak daily flow of 122 million gallons per day (mgd), but has been processing up to 145 mgd for nearly two weeks straight due the damaged interceptor and extremely wet conditions. The facility cleans wastewater for more than 220,000 residents of western Washington County and large areas of Bethany, Cedar Mill, Hillsboro, Beaverton and other areas in the Rock Creek watershed.
Some sewer overflows have occurred in the Turner Creek subbasin which is immediately upstream of the damaged manhole. This part of the sanitary sewer system is operated jointly by Clean Water Services and the City of Hillsboro. But the Hillsboro City Council asked Clean Water Services to assist the City in identifying and correcting the problems. At this time, backups are due to the catastrophic failure of the interceptor. No homeowners have reported sewage backups in their homes, and the system continues to function.
Dr. Gary Oxman, Health Officer for Washington County, says, “Extremely wet weather can pose a problem for our public sewer systems. Sewer system overflows usually aren’t dangerous if you take a few simple precautions to protect your family and pets.”
The public is asked to:
• Avoid contact with flood waters. Raw sewage that may be overflowing is highly diluted by rainwater which helps reduce the public health risks, but bacteria are still present. If the public comes in contact with floodwaters, they should wash with soap and water.
• Minimize water usage for the next several days as the Rock Creek Wastewater Treatment Facility continues to work on pumping down extreme high flows resulting from Thursday’s heavy rain storm.
• Immediately report missing manhole lids or suspected sewage overflows to Clean Water Services at (503) 681-3600 or their city. The public should not try to replace the lids.
Clean Water Services is the sanitary sewer and surface water management utility for nearly 500,000 customers in urban Washington County and small portions of Multnomah County, Clackamas County, Lake Oswego, and Portland. Clean Water Services operates four wastewater treatment plants, constructs and maintains flood management and water quality projects and manages flow in the Tualatin River to improve water quality and protect fish habitat. Although Clean Water Services maintains a close working relationship with Washington County government, it is a separately managed and financed public utility.
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