Green Bay's Sewage Leak: A Quick Cleanup with Minimal Risk

On February 12, a sewage leak occurred in downtown Green Bay. The leak happened because of a contractor's work on temporary sewer lines. The good news? It was cleaned up in just 24 hours. Nathan Qualls, who leads the Green Bay Metropolitan Sewerage District, said the emergency was over. Workers spent the day cleaning up the mess. They sucked up the sewage, rinsed the area with clean water, and disinfected the sidewalks and parts of the East River Trail. The cleanup finished around 5 p. m. on February 13. The leak came from six spots in black pipes. These pipes were supposed to divert wastewater from the main sewers. The contractor was preparing these pipes for a bigger sewer system renovation. The first leak was found around 6:15 p. m. near Main Street and North Monroe Avenue. More leaks were discovered that night, totaling six.The amount of sewage leaked was less than half a backyard swimming pool. About 2, 200 gallons of sewage ended up in storm sewers or the East River. However, the sewage stayed on top of the frozen river, making it easy to vacuum up. Qualls said the leak didn't pose a big public health risk. He emphasized keeping people away from the wastewater. The area was taped off, and NEW Water monitored it through the weekend. Qualls also mentioned that NEW Water will work closely with the contractor. They want to make sure this doesn't happen again. The affected pipes will soon be back in use for the larger sewer renovation project.