Recent rainfall combined with saturated ground conditions resulted in the City of Sweet Home overflowing diluted raw sewage into Ames Creek, which flows into the South Santiam River. The influent pump station structure overflowed plant capacity at approximately 5:24 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 23, and concluded at 10:44 p.m. on the same day.
According to a press release from the city, when the ground becomes saturated, groundwater enters the sanitary sewer system through cracks and…