Repairs continue after thousands of gallons of sewage spill into Brush Creek

The flow from a sewer main that collapsed Thursday, spilling thousands of gallons of wastewater into Brush Creek, has been slowed but was continuing Friday.

Kansas City Water Services officials said Friday that crews will continue working around the clock until the overflow has been completely stopped.

Signs have been posted downstream, along Brush Creek to the Blue River, advising the public to avoid contact with the water.

The collapse was reported about 3:30 p.m. Thursday in the 4500 block of Emanuel Cleaver II Boulevard on the north side of Brush Creek.

Water officials said a 72-inch sewer main, originally built in 1970, collapsed, spilling about 870 gallons per minute.

A spokesman for KC Water Services said the affected pipe was above ground, over the creek. While the cause of the collapse has not been determined, officials said it’s possible that erosion of the bank along the creek may be responsible.

One end of the broken pipe has been capped with concrete. On the other side of the break, crews were installing about a half mile of temporary pipe to divert the flow into another sewer pipe, the spokesman said.

It was not known how long it will take to stop the leak.

This story was originally published July 15, 2016 at 10:55 AM with the headline "Repairs continue after thousands of gallons of sewage spill into Brush Creek."