RST (Raw Sewage Topic) >> Raw Sewage Leaking Snohomish's Blackmans Lake; Not a 'Dire Emergency'

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Raw sewage leaking into Snohomish's Blackmans Lake; not a 'dire emergency'

By JIM HALEY Herald Writer

SNOHOMISH -- Snohomish city officials are poised today to attack a sewer line leak that is pouring raw sewage into Blackmans Lake.

Mayor Doug Thorndike said Monday the leak was not a "dire emergency." and the city would take a thoughtful approach to fixing it.

The problem was reported to Thorndike Sunday night after complaints reached Bob Heirman, a Snohomish-area resident who has preached environmental safeguards. Heirman called the mayor late Sunday.

The leak, which has been smelled by residents for some time, was spotted near the lake's northeast corner late Sunday by resident Brent Melnyk. He said "the smell was really strong last night because the wind wasn't blowing."

Melnyk said he donned rubber boots and investigated with a flashlight near the shoreline, discovering some sort of cleanout box along the sewer line route. Sewage was bubbling to the surface and flowing freely 60 feet into the lake.

A plumber, Melnyk said there's not doubt in his mind that it was raw sewage. He described toilet paper and other items in the flow.

"It was just reeking over there," he said Monday night.

Thorndike said a public works crew was sent out Monday, and it confirmed there was a problem. But there was no immediate attempt to halt the flow. It's not "a gushing, urgent break that had to be attended to overnight with emergency crews. This needs to be analyzed and repaired properly," Thorndike said.

Although it's not a dire situation, Thorndike said, "I'm glad the public works people were available (Monday) on a holiday to go out and use their informed judgment on what to do."

It was not immediately known what was causing the overflow. There are sewage pump stations in the area, including one at Hill Park, some 200 yards south of the overflow problem.

It shouldn't be overflowing.

"That suggests to me that there must be come sort of obstruction or it would be working properly," Thorndike said.

Meanwhile, resident Melnyk was concerned Monday night that the city didn't immediately take steps to fix the problem.

"I think if anybody else was doing it, they'd be in jail," Melnyk said.

You can call Herald Writer Jim Haley at 425-339-3447 or send e-mail to haley@heraldnet.com .

Comments: newmedia@heraldnet.com Copyright ) 2000 The Daily Herald Co., Everett, Wash.

http://www.heraldnet.com/Stories/00/2/22/12210662.htm

-- Dee (T1Colt556@aol.com), February 22, 2000


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