RMWD works to mitigate sewer spill

At around 3 p.m. on Tuesday, September 4, the Rainbow Municipal Water District (RMWD) discovered a blocked sewer line in the wetlands area of Horse Ranch Creek, east of Interstate 15 and north of Pala Road.

Initial estimates indicate that the blockage resulted in a sewer spill of approximately 540,000 gallons. Upon learning of the blockage, RMWD immediately mobilized crews to fix the situation. District crews worked around the clock to locate the blockage. Meanwhile, all upstream sewage flow was diverted into container trucks.

The next day, the district located the blockage: a root mass growing in the sewer line. In order to clear the mass, workers constructed a 20-foot-wide road approximately 200 feet into the wetlands. By the next afternoon, the mass had been cleared and the sewer line returned to service.

During a special meeting on Monday, September 10, the RMWD board authorized staff to hire Willdan Engineering to assist with mitigating any damage caused by the sewer spill and subsequent emergency roadway. Since the spill the district’s environmental team has been assessing the site and contacting the necessary agencies.

For additional information, contact Rainbow Municipal Water District at (760) 728-1178.