TOLEDO, Ohio — In an update late Monday, Toledo city officials said weekend rain had caused more sewer overflows, including into Delaware Creek, which is one of the current areas being tested for E. coli. 


What You Need To Know

  •  A sewer overflow in early June led to higher than above safe amounts of E. coli in Delaware and Swan creeks

  •  Weekend rain caused additional issues, producing temporary sewer overflows that have since been stopped

  • E. coli testing resumed Monday and results are expected Tuesday

Download the Spectrum News App

Public health advisories remain in effect for Delaware Creek and Swan Creek, according to the Toledo-Lucas County Public Health Department. The advisories stem from the discovery of a sewer overflow in early June that was connected to the collapse of a major sewer interceptor on Arlington Avenue. A strong odor was reported by residents, which led the city to discover the overflow. There was a partial collapse of the interceptor in early May that caused similar overflows, and then it fully collapsed, blocking all flow through the 48-inch sanitary main, the city explained.

This led to higher than above normal levels of E. coli in the water. 

Although E. coli levels have significantly been reduced since the city stopped the sewer overflow, weekend rain caused additional issues. 

The city said there were two temporary sewer overflows into Delaware Creek: one at Yaryan Drive and another at Sherwood Avenue and Detroit. Crews said the overflows have since been stopped, and that there were no additional overflows into Swan Creek. 

E. coli testing resumed Monday and the results will be available Tuesday, city officials said. However, the public health advisories will remain in effect as E. coli levels remain above safe thresholds, the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department said in a statement to Spectrum News 1.