Riverside, Calif. - Crews from Western Municipal Water District (with assistance from Eastern Municipal Water District and Jurupa Community Services District) responded to a sewage spill on Wednesday, March 18, at 6:45 a.m. resulting from a break in one of the pipelines at the Markham Lift Station located at 18913 Markham Street, Riverside.
There are no safety/health concerns for the public. No service interruptions are anticipated.
The spill was quickly contained by 7:15 a.m. Western has not yet completed an estimate of how much sewage was released. Some of the spill entered a nearby riparian area; Western is working with the Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Regional Water Quality Control Board to clean up the spill and address any necessary mitigation to the area.
Excavation of the damaged pipeline has begun in preparation for replacing the line. In the meantime, sewage will be diverted to Vactor trucks until approximately 4 p.m. this afternoon. Cleanup of the site has already begun. The cause of the pipe break is under investigation.
Western Municipal Water District provides water supply, wastewater disposal and water resource management to the public in a safe, reliable, environmentally sensitive and financially responsible manner.
