This is a Public Notification of a sanitary sewer overflow as required by NR 210.21(5). During a start-up testing period taking place on December 9th 2024 after an extended Capital Project that replaced the existing Meister Park Lift Station Columbus Utilities Staff identified that downstream of the Meister Park Lift Station Forced Main that sewage flow was not present. The Lift Station Pumping was immediately suspended and tracer dye was added to the wet well. Upon restart dye was identified in the Crawfish River at roughly 2:10 PM on Monday December 9, 2024.
After the dye indicated a rupture in the Forced Main all pumping was immediately stopped and flow was routed via bypass hosing East over the STH 73 Bridge to the nearest Sanitary Manhole. At this time pumping commenced and sewerage flow was returned to the collection system ultimately reaching the Columbus Wastewater Treatment Facility.
The state of Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the State Spill Hotline were contacted immediately to notify state agencies of the sanitary sewer overflow. Columbus Utilities with the assistance of Contract Engineers have facilitated a repair plan that will be executed on Monday December 16, 2024 by Forest Landscaping and Construction Inc. Until completion sanitary sewer flow will remain in bypass to ensure safety of the Crawfish River and service to our utility customers.
Historical Data Collection allowed Staff to properly investigate the circumstances and determined the initial date of discharge to be November 22, 2024. From November 22nd until December 9th approximately 209,814 gallons of sanitary sewage and groundwater was discharged into the Crawfish River. It is believed there has been minimal potential for human exposure or contact.
Columbus Utilities