Avoid Water Contact Immediately In Sewage Overflow Area Of Neighborhood

Seattle Public Utilities sent this information to the Laurelhurst Blog:
 

Seattle Public Utilities would like to let you know that our crews responded to a sewer overflow on July 15^th about midnight in Laurelhurst.   

The sewer pump station located in the 3000 Block of West Laurelhurst Drive NE was inundated with water to a point where the two pumps could not keep up. This caused a release of wastewater though an overflow pipe to nearby Union Bay for about thirty minutes.  

We’ve heard from some Laurelhurst residents that there was a short-term heavy rain event at the time. SPU is investigating the cause but we haven’t confirmed yet if that contributed to the overflow.  

Yesterday, SPU crews took samples at Union Bay. At this time, we are advising people to avoid water contact in the area of the overflow until samples can be analyzed.  

We should have results from initial sampling by mid-day tomorrow.  Public Health-Seattle and King County will review the samples and determine when the water is safe for swimming. We will share updates.