State Environmental Office Discovered to be Source of Unpleasant Pollution

Saturday, April 18, 2009

“Holy crap” was the response, in all seriousness, by one Washington state environmental expert upon learning that the source pollution in a long contaminated stream flowing through Vancouver City was none other than her own office’s bathrooms. The state Department of Ecology, which shares space with the state fish and wildlife service, were informed that a sewer pipe in their building had for decades been dumping raw sewage into a storm drain that flowed directly into Burnt Bridge Creek, which the Ecology Department has said has been severely polluted with fecal coliform since 1996. “The irony is not lost on us,” said Brian Carlson, the city’s public works director.

 
It turns out the polluting dates back to when the building was first constructed in the early 1970s by retailer Fred Meyer, which has since sold the property to Honolulu-based Watumull Properties. Waumull officials said they have agreed to pay for repairs to fix the building’s plumbing. In the meantime, the 100 employees who work in the building have to use porta potties.
-Noel Brinkerhoff
 
Sewer Spill's Trail Led to Environmental Agency’s Office (by Erik Robinson, Columbian-Clark County WA)

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