City Addresses Sanitary Sewer Leak in Marshfield

Sanitary Sewer Leak in Marshfield: Immediate Action and Precautions Taken

MARSHFIELD, WI (OnFocus) – On the morning of Wednesday, November 8th, 2023, Marshfield’s Wastewater Division discovered a sanitary sewer leak in the force main that serves the northern part of the city. A 20” force main was repaired promptly by city workers, successfully stopping the leak by 7:05 PM the same day.

Roughly 950,000 gallons of untreated sanitary sewer flows were estimated to have leaked into McMillan Creek (formerly known as Squaw Creek). To manage this overflow, city workers and contracted waste haulers immediately started pumping water from the creek. The extracted water is being treated at the City’s Wastewater treatment plant.

City staff are collaborating with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to properly handle and treat the sanitary sewer overflow. As a precaution, the public is advised to avoid using McMillan Creek between Becker Road and Staad Road until the cleanup is completed. It’s important to note that this release affected surface water only and does not pose a threat to the city’s drinking water system.

For any questions regarding this event, contact the Public Works Department at (715) 486-2034 or the Wastewater Treatment Division at (715) 486-2007.

Marshfield city officials said they are actively addressing the situation, emphasizing containment and treatment efforts to ensure public safety and environmental well-being. Adhering to precautionary measures will help maintain safety until the cleanup is finished.

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