Yuba City sewer line breaks

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

The wastewater 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 Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board.

The pipe, buried about 6 feet under the riverbed, ruptured Monday on the east side of the Feather River, southeast of Shanghai Bend, city officials reported.

While authorities were quick to downplay potential health risks, the break is causing major issues. 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 regional board, authorities said.

Costs will be absorbed from wastewater treatment funds and will not affect the city's general fund, said Michael Paulucci, deputy director of the Public Works Department.

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

State 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 all 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, city officials said. Work could begin 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. 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."

CONTACT Rob Parsons at rparsons@appealdemocrat.com or 749-4785.