Archived News Release: July 5, 2019 - At approximately 11:30 a.m. on Friday, July 5, 2019, City of Ann Arbor Public Works staff was notified of broken sanitary sewer line along Liberty Street in downtown Ann Arbor. While on site, crews discovered that untreated sewage from the broken pipe had found its way into a nearby storm pipe that eventually discharges into the Huron River. Crews had the flow to the storm pipe stopped by 1:20 p.m. the same day.
It is estimated that up to 3,000 gallons of untreated sewage could have been discharged into the river. Water samples have been taken and are being analyzed.
As a result, and as a precaution, river trips between Argo and Gallup canoe liveries are closed for Friday and Saturday, July 5 and 6, as the city awaits water quality test results. However, boat rentals are available for stillwater paddling in two-mile Argo and Gallup ponds, which remain open. Tube rentals are also available in the Argo Cascades.
In accordance with regulatory protocols, City of Ann Arbor staff has notified the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.
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