Broken line pumping treated wastewater into Feather River

A broken underwater sewer line is pumping treated wastewater into the Feather River, Yuba City officials reported Friday.

The wastewater currently pouring into the Feather River is not raw sewage, authorities said.

“The water has been treated and disinfected, so we don’t anticipate any public health issues associated with the break,” said Ken Landau, assistant executive director at the Regional Water Quality Control Board.

While authorities were quick to downplay potential health risks, the break is causing major issues and city leaders are calling for “emergency action.”

Yuba City is facing potentially massive repair and construction costs that could range up to $1.4 million and could also be slapped fines and penalties from the State Regional Water Quality Control Board, authorities said.

Costs will be absorbed from wastewater treatment funds and will not have an impact on the city’s general fund, said Michael Paulucci, deputy director of the Yuba City Public Works Department,

Paulucci said he does not anticipate any rate increases for Yuba City customers as a result of the break.

Wastewater officials said the city’s claims that there are no public health risks are “largely” accurate.

“It’s the same water that’s been discharging there along, the only difference now is how that water is being discharged,” Landau said.

Normally the water is released into the river “in a way that spreads it out more,” Landau explained.

However, because of the break, the discharge is more concentrated, which could have potential long-term risks, especially for fish passage.

“But, once the problem is fixed, that issue goes away,” Landau said.

Repairs are expected to take about two months to complete, city officials said, and work could be began within the next two weeks after officials obtain all the necessary permits.

The wastewater may not be toxic, but is not drinkable, either, Landau acknowledged.

“You wouldn’t want to go scuba diving around it,” Landau said.

The break occurred, officials said, because of recent “natural changes” to the Feather River that altered how the river flows. The riverbed changes in October and November exposed the outfall line and eventually caused the break, according to Wendy Wyels, the water board’s environmental program manager.

Wyels said the board has been pleased with the city’s response to the break and said, in general, the Yuba City Wastewater Treatment Plant is in good standing with the state board.

“It’s a generally well-run treatment plant,” she said. “I’m very happy with how quickly the city has been responding.”

A majority of Yuba City residents draw their drinking water from the Feather River. Marysville residents get their water from ground wells.

CONTACT Rob Parsons at rparsons@appealdemocrat.com or 749-4785. Find him on Facebook at /ADcrimebeat or on Twitter at @ADcrimebeat.