Confirmed Sanitary Sewer Overflow Occurs at the Blucher Poole Wastewater Treatment Plant

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 21, 2016

For more information, please contact: City of Bloomington Utilities Department Director Vic Kelson, kelsonv@bloomington.in.gov, 812-349-3666 or Deputy Director John Langley, langleyj@bloomington.in.gov, 812-349-3656.

Confirmed Sanitary Sewer Overflow Occurs at the Blucher Poole Wastewater Treatment Plant

Bloomington, Ind. - The City of Bloomington Utilities Department confirmed a sanitary sewer overflow on Monday, September 19, at the Blucher Poole Wastewater Treatment Plant.

The estimated 500 gallon overflow occurred during a scheduled power outage in which the main electrical feed to the treatment plant was disconnected. The procedure allowed a contractor to safely install a new emergency/power grid automatic transfer switch. During the power outage, flow to the treatment plant slightly exceeded the capacity of the plant's primary wastewater vault. The excess wastewater flowed to a field owned by the City adjacent to the treatment plant.

Plant employees reacted almost immediately by placing an earthen barrier in the path of the overflow thus minimizing the flow to Bean Blossom Creek. The incident was reported to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.

The City of Bloomington Utilities Department is committed to transparency. This includes issuing public advisories in the event a confirmed sanitary sewer overflow has occurred.

For more information, contact City of Bloomington Utilities Deputy Director John Langley at 812-349-3656 or Utilities Director Vic Kelson at 812-349-3666.

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