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On Tuesday, Aug. 9, the Sweet Home wastewater treatment plant experienced an increase of approximately double its usual flow of 700 gallons per minute.

For three to four hours that day, its influent level was at 1,400 GPM. Then, three or four days later, the plant lost nearly all biological life in its aeration basin.

“The suspicion is that something was in that flow that was abnormal that killed the biology of the treatment facility,” Utilities Manager Steven Haney said. “It didn’t kill it initially. It’s kind of like if you take a poison: It may take you three days to die. Not...