Pipe break at Ypsilanti treatment plant causes wastewater overflow

File photo.Jacob Hamilton

YPSILANTI, MI – A sudden pipe break caused an unknown amount of wastewater to overflow at the Ypsilanti Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Water officials discovered an overflow at 12:57 p.m. Wednesday, June 7, at the Ypsilanti Wastewater Treatment Plant and were able to stop it within six minutes, according to the Ypsilanti Community Utilities Authority.

Plant personnel found that the overflow occurred while wastewater was being pumped from a primary clarifier to the secondary treatment section of the plant.

During the pumping a pipe snapped and caused the overflow which reached the onsite storm sewer system and detention pond, officials said.

The pond is set up to return water back to the head of the plant for treatment.

It is unknown how much overflow made it out of the plant, though the vast majority of it was prevented from leaving the plant's stormwater system, officials said.

There is no perceived danger to the public and the Ypsilanti Community Utilities Authority is still investigating the spill.

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