Do not enter or drink untreated water from the Powder River
By Shannon Weidemann (McKone) on Monday, March 21st, 2022 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
BAKER CITY – (Release from Baker City Public Works) Baker City has notified, and are working with, state and local agencies regarding release of treated effluent with high E coli counts from the Baker City Wastewater Treatment Facility into the Powder River. DEQ and Public Health officials currently recommend that humans do not enter the Powder River or drink untreated water from the Powder River north (downstream) of the City’s discharge point near Imnaha Road until the E coli counts are within the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit limits. The City will continue to test the effluent E coli levels throughout the coming days. E coli is not deemed a health concern forcattle in the area.
The need to discharge effluent outside of the E coli permit limits is due to damage to one of the cell dykes at the wastewater treatment plant. Storage volumes within the lagoon must be lowered to reduce further damage to the primarydyke.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has further information on E coli. Escherichia coli (abbreviated as E. coli) are bacteria found in the environment, foods, and intestines of people and animals. E. coli are a large and diverse group ofbacteria.
Although most strains of E. coli are harmless, others can make you sick. Some kinds of E. coli can cause diarrhea, while others cause urinary tract infections, respiratory illness and pneumonia, and other illnesses. (www.CDC.gov/ecoli)
Please contact Michelle Owen, Public Works Director for further information. pwdirector@bakercity.gov
541-524-2031
