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On Monday July 20th, the City of Cannon Beach alerted the Department of Environmental Quality that an “internal power supply to the Pacific Pump station computer controller failed causing the lift station to go off-line and discharge sewage onto the beach via the Gower Street storm drain outfall. Approximately 11,000 gallons of sewage discharged onto the beach before staff discovered the spill at 0730 hours and switched the lift station into bypass mode stopping the spill.”
The Gower Street Outfall is where an unnamed stream that meanders through Midtown Cannon Beach hits one of the most heavily used beach access points in the entire State of Oregon. This is directly in front of the Wayfarer Restaurant. Elevated enterococcus readings at the Gower Street Outfall are nothing new. Enterococcus is bacteria normally found in feces. Two types, Enterococcus fecalis and Enterococcus fecium, cause human disease, most commonly in the form of urinary tract and wound infections. Other infections, including those of the blood stream (bacteremia), heart valves (endocarditis), and the brain (meningitis) can occur in severely ill patients in hospitals. Enterococci also often colonize open wounds and skin ulcers, and are among the most common antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Swimming and surfing in water contaminated with enterococcus can lead to digestion system illnesses with flu like symptoms.
The causes of these elevated levels of enterococcus have eluded the City for years. What the public does know is that there was once a misconnect from the Surfsand Resort where a sewage pipe was wrongfully connected to the storm drain. That has been fixed. A sewage leak was discovered by the owners of the Ecola Inn when they were doing work on their property. That has been fixed. Some high readings were likely from dirty diapers, seagulls and rats.
The City has been testing the water quality for many years now, trying to correlate the results with the State which only tests once a week during the summer. At some point last year, the City began testing for optical brighteners which show whether detergents are present in the test samples. This demonstrates a definite domestic connection to the storm drain. When these tests allegedly came out negative, Dan Grassick, the City Public Works Director determined that the source of contamination was not human. He subsequently ended the City’s water quality testing program last month.
When the Surfrider Foundation learned of Dan Grassick’s plan to stop testing water quality, Surfrider offered to buy all testing supplies and continue testing for the City free of charge if the City allowed Surfrider to use their lab space. Dan Grassick said no. Less than one month later, the City spilled 11,000 gallons of raw sewage into the Gower Street stream.
Lets be clear, accidents happen, and the City Public Works Crew worked hard to contain the spill, presumably doing everything management told them to do. I believe the Public Works Crew loves Cannon Beach and work hard to make it a better place for us all. However, the City’s response was woefully inadequate. The City did not notify the Mayor or the City Councilors about the spill. The City made no public announcement. The City allegedly removed the contaminated sand 3-4 inches from the surface and called the clean up complete. It is my understanding that in wet sand areas like this, the contaminated water penetrates to the water table, considerably deeper than 3-4 inches.
When I walked the outfall the day after the spill with City Manager Kucera, we found signage 100 yards apart so that walking from the south there was no way to know the site may still be contaminated. We found an elderly man in a wheelchair rinsing his feet in the stream. We also found children running up and down the stream, and very brown water containing visible brown particles. The evening of the spill I witnessed dogs drinking the water and numerous children playing in around the stream. In response to my concerns, the City added a few more signs that said, “Contaminated Water, Avoid Water Play.” In contrast, after Seaside’s sewage spill last year, their signs more understandably read “Unsafe Water, Sewer Contamination, Keep Away.” No mixed messages there.
The State of Oregon has a very limited budget for their seasonal Beach Water Monitoring Program. Their single staff member was in Southern Oregon the day of the spill so the State called on Surfrider to test Gower Street. Over 24 hours after the spill, Surfrider’s test results from the stream on the beach had very high enterococcus readings of 3,130 organisms per 100 milliliters of water. 158 is a health advisory level, but the State only issues health advisories if the high readings are in the ocean. Yes, the State does not issue health advisories for all the creeks and streams that our children play in and our dogs drink from. Dan Grassick responded to these test results by stating the brown water was a “common algae” and the City’s Ecoli testing had lower rates than Surfrider’s Enterococcus tests so the water was safe. On Friday June 24th, Cannon Beach removed all signs, despite Surfrider’s followup testing showing elevated levels of enterococcus (albeit less) for the remainder of the week.
Over the years, the City repeatedly denied any connection between the sewage system and the Gower Street Outfall. Clearly, there is an overflow connection. The City’s response to the sewage spill and lack of transparency over the years with regard to the high enterococcus levels has unfortunately lead to widespread distrust in the community. The City is now on record acknowledging that the alarm failed to go off at the Pacific Pump Station during this spill. How many times did the alarm fail in the past? We frequently have interruption of power on the coast. How many of these outages lead to temporary undetected overflows?
Hopefully the City of Cannon Beach will learn from this incident, and will reinitiate its water quality testing program, notify its leaders next time there is a spill, and go the extra step to protect its residents and visitors by officially closing any contaminated areas until all tests come up clean and safe. We all deserve better.
Thanks Mike, for a thorough analysis of water quality on the beach at Cannon Beach. Having worked at the Dept. of Ecology in WA, I’m not surprised by your findings. I think it’s a symptom of how we deal with our wastes that causes these sorts of problems. Basically, we rely on government and their contractors to take make sure that our wastes are handled correctly. We pool our wastes and attempt to treat this pooled waste in centralized plants, and we don’t really know what we’re doing. To make matters worse, as you explain, we often don’t really have the resources to make sure that these systems are always working.
So, as you tell it in your post, we rely on watchdog groups and folks such as you to make sure things work correctly. Again, as you point out, this is not full-proof — many times the best that can be done is to make something bad a little less bad.
So, my suggestion, made as a chemical engineer and environmental engineer that has been working in this field and thinking a lot about it, is to treat our wastes as close to the source as possible, and incorporate monitoring into the treatment process that will avoid as many problems as possible. The idea is to spread out the risk, and also lessen risk by using more appropriate technologies. Finally, education of the generators (that’s us!) to produce less is worth every penny. I just got back from a fiddle camp where we were instructed to pee in the bushes if possible, not flush toilets after peeing, and generally use as little water as possible, because of the drought. We can practice these sorts of things at home, and be aware of the wastes we produce, treat them at home (there are some great aerobic treatment systems that don’t require drainfields), and get together with folks in the community to figure out solutions.
Please write more of this kind of stuff in the Upper Left Edge, Mike, and thanks for all you do for our communities here on the coast!!
Good on you, Mike! Many thanks to you and other members of Surfrider for your advocacy.
I served on the local public works committee when Cannon Beach built our new wastewater treatment facility. The project was deemed necessary to expand capacity for more tourists, vacation homes, and residents. I was concerned as we moved forward that the expansion would feed the illusion that crowds could continue to swell without us thinking in a more integrated way about resource management.
One of the best ways to encourage stewardship is through economics. On the public works committee I promoted consumption-based rates in conjunction with the new wastewater facility, arguing that those who put the greatest demands on the system should shoulder the greatest weight in paying for it. I convinced the committee to recommend a stair-stepped approach in which higher-volume utility users would pay higher rates. Some of those higher-volume users had been getting sweet-heart deals for many years. Alas, the city council rejected our recommendation.
This outcome echoes a common problem with public policy. Dominant players exert political control so that our economy is tilted to privatize profits while socializing the associated risks and costs. Case in point: vested interests successfully lobbied state government so that much of the lodging tax revenues that are collected in tourist locations must be used for promotion and marketing. As a result, a chunk of that public money is now earmarked to attract more tourists rather than fund the services that are required to host them.
Cannon Beach once prided herself on managing resources in a way that protects the natural assets that make this place special. It’s a clear sign we’ve lost our way when shit like this happens. How do we get back on track? One suggestion is for city hall to make room for an environmental advocate on staff who will work with various departments and make sure we’re living up to our green brand. Also, independent watchdog groups like Surfrider Foundation deserve support. I’ve donated money in the past, and will continue to do so when I can.
You probably had Mike in mind for this advocate position, Watt, but I would take it gladly. I’ve thought about just that for Astoria as well. Portland, Seattle, San Francisco and many other larger cities have sustainability or environmental departments that advocate for the environment, and all cities and towns need this. It’s probably the same in Cannon Beach — in Astoria, when there’s a conflict between the natural environment and public works, guess who wins.
All of this is yet more fodder for why we need to move away from government implementation of public works and such, and do it ourselves. Small steps towards this ideal should be taken whenever possible. Things like reusing water, solar panels, rainwater collection, energy efficiency, and probably most important — working together in small communities to get it done.
All this while continuing to monitor government and contractors, and advocating for the environment whenever possible. Thanks Watt and Mike for doing all you do in this regard!
Bob and Watt, you’ve kind of said it all, so i will simply thank Mike for posting this. I walk the beach often as well. Knowledge is power that offers us the impetus to make choices in alignment with sustainability and common sense. Thank you Mike for honoring community and inter connection.
Today I read the headline in the Cannon Beach Gazette, “Cannon Beach keeping an eye on water demand” Due to an abnormally dry summer the city has not been able to keep the reservoirs full. The city reported that demand is high on the weekends because more tourists are in town, but that the bulk of the demand has been irrigation. There have been talks of implementing a water conservation plan but the city claims that it is not necessary at this time. Is it going to take another disaster like the sewage spill to begin to make us become more pro-active than re-active? How can we look at the drought in California and current climate changes and think that NOW is not the time for water conservation? One public works employee said he is “very prepared to stop irrigating if asked.” Shouldn’t we be asking? Are we paying attention?
“Never doubt that a small group of committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” ~Margaret Mead
I agree wholeheartedly, Tracy. Cannon Beach and other coastal communities have such an opportunity for leadership with environmental issues. If visitors were to come (from all over the world) to our beloved communities and witness us actively working together to protect this place that we love, imagine how inspiring that could be. Imagine the innovative projects we could be implementing and teaching about!
Cannon Beach has a wonderful history of this kind of environmental stewardship. We need to revive that spirit!
If ever there was a Like for a comment on the Edge, I would give it for this one, Jennifer. Let’s do this!
If anyone would like to know what actually happened during the sewage spill, or how the City responded and what was done as follow-up, or if there are questions about ending the stormwater sampling, feel free to contact me for discussion. I am available via e-mail (grassick@ci.cannon-beach.or.us), phone: 503-436-8066, or I can make time to meet in person. – DanG
The City of Portland’s Sewage Response Plan requires public notification and media advisories of any sewage overflow to surface water that is greater than 40 gallons. Any overflow that does not affect surface water, but is suspected to be over 400 gallons requires public notification. Furthermore, if the spill site has potential for public access and a potential health risk exists, Portland requires public notification for amounts less than 40 gallons.
Notifications are sent to the Oregonian, Associated Press, Daily Journal of Commerce, Portland Tribune, KATU, KGW, KOIN, KPTV, KXL, KPAM, KEX, KINK, KOPB, City Council members, and Public Health offices.
The City of Cannon Beach spilled an estimated 11,000 gallons of sewage into the Gower Street Stream which lands on one of the busiest beach entrances in the State of Oregon during a hot summer morning and did not make a single public announcement.
We deserve better.
Sounds like Mike is asking for a public statement from the city telling everyone what happened, not just those individuals who can and choose to contact you, Dan. I’ll second that request. Please go ahead and tell Upper Left Edge readers the details, and I’m sure we’ll get the word out to others. Thanks Dan for your offer and for joining our community!
Bob: Here is an event summary that has been sent to various parties from the week of 20 July as the event progressed. I also provided similar information to the local press on Tuesday 22 July with daily updates throughout the week and into Monday the following week. DanG
What follows is what is actually factually known about the Pacific Street sewage lift station failure and subsequent sewage spill onto the beach at the Gower St outfall at Cannon Beach:
– On 20 July at approximately 0530 hours the internal power supply to the Pacific Pump station computer controller failed causing the lift station to go off-line and discharge sewage onto the beach via the Gower Street storm drain outfall.
– Approximately 11,000 gallons of sewage discharged onto the beach before staff discovered the spill at 0730 hours and switched the lift station into bypass mode stopping the spill.
– City crews immediately cordoned off the affected spill area with barricades and cones and stationed individuals at the beach entrance to warn people to avoid the contaminated area.
– The City’s heavy equipment contractor was dispatched with a track hoe and two dump trucks to assist with sand cleanup actions along with the City’s own road grader.
– Contaminated sand was graded into long rows, picked up by the track hoe, deposited in the trucks and removed from the beach – approximately 3 to 4 inches in depth was removed over the contaminated area. Cleanup was completed at approximately 1300 hours.
– The site was regraded to reform the natural storm water channel across the beach from approximately 50 yards beyond the outfall to the end of the contamination area that was well above the high tide line (the spill nor the storm water flowed out to the surf area)
– At this point the determination was made that with the clean-up actions and the warning signs deployed, and the fact that the contamination had not reached the surf nor had it or the storm water been close to the high tide line, that the beach did not warrant a closure notice – rather a notice of contamination was posted on the barricades along with a warning to avoid contact with the stormwater.
– Wastewater staff began sampling immediately for E-Coli – the fresh water test standard for Oregon State Bacteria Criteria.
– Warning signs were deployed at the outfall along with caution tape and at approximately 25 to 40 yard intervals along the stormwater flow channel along the area of contamination – Additional barricades and signs were deployed on Tuesday at 1300 hours at Mr Manzulli’s request to the City Manager.
– Those signs will remain in place until City staff test results show definitively that E-Coli values are below the threshold value of concern and continue to trend downward – staff estimates the signs will be removed Friday afternoon 24 July.
– The spill was communicated to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality Monday morning by wastewater treatment staff as soon as they determined the cause and resolution of the operational issue with the the City’s contract electrician.
– The spill and City response was also communicated to the Ecola Creek Watershed Council at their bi-monthly meeting on Monday evening 20 July held at Cannon Beach City Hall.
– Detailed information was provided to the City Council on Tuesday 21 July as well as the news reporter for the Cannon Beach Gazette.
– Tuesday mid morning, Mr Manzulli and an associate went to the site where water samples were collected from the stormwater outfall and the stormwater on the sand – plus apparently some marine water samples from the near surf line.
– Those samples were tested by Surfrider for Enterococcus bacteria – an indicator bacteria that is used for establishing Marine water quality issues where aquatic recreational activities occur in the near ocean environment – not Freshwater quality. Oregon uses E-coli as the indicator bacteria for freshwater samples.
– Enterococcus bacteria standards are 158 MPN (most probable number) for marine water samples. E-coli bacteria standards for fresh water (storm water) are 406 MPN. Both of those are single sample values – there are long term, multi-test, multi-day values that are different.
– Mr Manzulli communicated the results of the tests taken by his associate (along with his comments and concerns) to a variety of outlets including those addressed in this email.
– Mr Manzulli’s reference to brown matter as being fecal matter is in fact a common form of algae that proliferates in the warm water just beyond stormwater outfalls for 50 to 100 yards and grows very fast and well in the warm sandy environment – his referenced picture is a very good representation of that common algae – it is NOT fecal matter.
– Surfrider staff have provided Enterococcus bacteria values for the stormwater on the beach from the Gower outfall based on their Tuesday mid-morning samples. Enterococcus bacteria is known to quickly replicate in certain freshwater environments – and to not degrade quickly in marine environments – hence its preference for marine water quality sampling.
– Wastewater staff has continuously sampled the site for E-coli. The Tuesday 21 July sample was above the 406 MPN threshold value and the decision was made to continue to deploy the warning signs and barricades until the values declined below the threshold value and a definite downward trend was established.
– E-coli values for Wednesday 22 July were 344 MPN – well below the threshold value – results are pending for Thursday’s sample.
What Has Been Done To Prevent Recurrence:
– Control of all site alarms and the alarm dialer have been removed from the operational control of the lift station computer and placed on their own power supply with a back-up UPS device. (this was the reason for no alarm notice/call-outs when the computer power supply failed)
– An additional high-high float discrete alarm has been added that will trigger independently of the above alarm process should the above system fail to activate for any reason.
– The power supply unit that failed has been replaced with a new unit.
– A redundant monitoring and alarm reporting system will be included as a project for all lift stations beginning in 2016.
Of Note:
– Nearly all sewage lift stations have permitted/approved emergency overflow connections that will eventually discharge sewage to waters of the state (rivers) or the ocean environment (across the beach).
– Pacific lift station is typical of this permitted design – its overflow connection is near the Gower Street stormwater outfall at an elevation that is over 5 feet above the normal operating elevation for the wetwell.
– This system, including the emergency overflow connection was inspected and reviewed by Surfrider and City staff together during a tour of the City’s treatment and collection system several years ago.
– Pacific lift station capacity has been designed for ultimate build-out population of Cannon Beach including existing and potential commercial hotels that may be added to its service area in the future. The design value includes a conservative volume estimate and a generous design factor of safety.
– Two new non-clog pedestal-mounted variable speed pumps were installed in 2013 with capacity to meet design flows.
– The City discontinued its stormwater sampling program primarily because there was no definitive program or project to effectively reduce or eliminate the occasional enterococcus bacteria excursions at the stormwater outfalls and because the City established that those excursions were in fact not sourced from the sanitary sewer system.
– Additionally enterococcus is not the freshwater indicator bacteria standard for Oregon State Bacteria Criteria – and the Beach Act focus for our area is on coastal recreation waters – beach warnings and closures are based on enterococcus numbers from marine samples.
Update 24 July:
– Thursday E-coli test results for Gower stormwater outfall is 144 MPN – all barricades and warning signs have been removed from the site effective 1000 hours this morning.
This post and thread of comments models the kind of conversation we aim to cultivate here at the Edge. Many thanks to Mike Manzulli for leading the discussion. He also notified the Cannon Beach Gazette and was responsible for prompting coverage of this issue in the local press. I’m equally grateful to others who have weighed in here, including Dan Grassick, director of public works for the City of Cannon Beach.
The sewage spill spotlights a choice for our community. Will Cannon Beach uphold its reputation as a natural treasure, a place where leaders go beyond the status quo to protect the environment? Or do we want to simply do what is necessary to keep from getting into trouble with state and federal regulators?
There is a difference of opinion as to how much of the brown material in the spill area after the clean-up was algae and how much was fecal matter. But one thing is certain: both Enterococcus and E-coli levels were high after the clean-up. Why not continue testing for both? I’m told the City tested for Enterococcus up until July of this year. Continued testing for both bacteria would provide us with more complete information about public health at this highly-visited beach.
Concerns have also circulated regarding the location and protocol for disposing of the sewage-contaminated sand. We need to be certain that clean-up of one area does not result in potential health hazards elsewhere.
Surely everyone can agree that damage control is not the same thing as problem solving. I’m grateful for what has been done by public works to reduce the chances of another spill happening due to dysfunctional or inadequate equipment. Yet repeated problems over the years at this location point to the need for greater public scrutiny. It would be a big step forward in addressing recurrent concerns if the City would enter an agreement with Surfrider Foundation to continue monitoring.
Apparently the State of Oregon has sufficient trust in Surfrider to rely on the civic support of its volunteers when resources are stretched thin. Cannon Beach would be wise to develop a similar working relationship with Surfrider. As chairman of the local watershed council, Mike Manzulli is in a position to foster that relationship. Hopefully someone will step up on behalf of the City to do likewise.
Tonight at 5:30 pm Ecola Creek Watershed Council and the Surfrider Foundation will be having a brief discussion regarding water quality and the sewage spill with the Cannon Beach City Councilors at their work session. The public is welcome to attend. City hall is located at 163 E. Gower Street.