City of Salem, OR
11/04/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/04/2026 19:39
Crews Respond to Sewer Spill Near Keizer Rapids Park
While performing routine maintenance to identify potential problem areas in a City of Salem sewer pipe Nov. 4, Public Works crews responded to two sewer pipe breaks near Keizer Rapids Park. The resulting spill was localized and contained. Cleanup work is ongoing with repairs planned to begin Nov. 5.
The spill occurred shortly before noon today when an investigative device became stuck in an 18-inch sewer line south of the Willow Lake Wastewater Pollution Control Facility. Crews increased pressure in the line to free the device, which resulted in the two ruptures. In anticipation of this possibility, crews had staged cleanup equipment nearby at Willow Lake and mobilized quickly after the spill began.
Between 3,000 and 5,000 gallons of untreated sewer water escaped from the two breaks near Chemawa Road N and Walsh Way N in Keizer. The spill was contained in a roadside ditch before being removed by City of Salem staff. None of the untreated sewer water reached any local waterways. A parallel 24-inch pipe remains in operation while the 18-inch pipe is repaired.
Residents are asked to avoid the area until the cleanup is completed. Signs are in place to indicate impacted areas and will be removed as soon as it is safe to reenter the area.
Regular inspections are one way the City of Salem works to identify problem areas for preventative maintenance.
City of Salem, OR published this content on November 04, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on November 05, 2026 at 01:40 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]