Faulty gate at Bremerton plant causes sewage, runoff spill

BREMERTON, Wash. — Officials say a malfunctioning gate at a wastewater treatment plant on Bremerton's east side led to a spill of sewage and runoff into Port Washington Narrows and Dyes Inlet.

The Kitsap Sun reports the facility that's only used during storms activated from the Heavy rains Tuesday, but the faulty gate pushed rainwater and sewage into an emergency overflow valve.

Ned Lever, managing engineer of the city's utilities division, says about 200,000 gallons (760,000 liters) spilled.

He says crews had the gate opened in less than an hour. Crews are repairing the gate's mechanisms.

The Kitsap Public Health District issued a no-contact advisory for waters between Silverdale and Bremerton, warning residents to avoid skin contact with those waters through Dec. 18.