Grease clog causes raw sewage overflow in Kalamazoo

Apr 08, 2023

A sanitary sewer overflow happened in this area on June 7.

KALAMAZOO, MI -- A grease blockage caused a 1,350-gallon sewage overflow from a private sewer system near Portage Creek, the city of Kalamazoo reports.

The sewer overflow happened 2:02 p.m. Tuesday, June 6, via a sanitary sewer overflow from a manhole on private property at 300 W. Kilgore Rd., which is the location of Candlewyck Apartments.

The private sewer only serves the apartments and units at that address, there are no other contributing properties or basins, Public Services Director James Baker said.

This private sewer system is not maintained by the city. The city's Department of Public Services staff removed the blockage at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday.

The wastewater flow did not reach the West Fork of Portage Creek, the city said. Normal flow conditions in the private sanitary sewer have been restored and the impacted area has been remediated.

The city recommends proactive practices to prevent fat, oil and grease backups or overflows. The advice includes not dumping grease in a drain, Baker said.

Anybody who had contact with the raw sewage should clean and disinfect shoes, clothes and skin thoroughly, city and county health officials said.

As required by law, Water Reclamation Plant personnel notified the Michigan Department of Environmental, Great Lakes and Energy of the spill.

The same location had a sewer overflow in April 2020 after vandals placed railroad ties in the manholes and blocked the flow.

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