Crews from the Met Council Environmental Services division stopped the spill flow in approximately 40 minutes. The spill was caused by an equipment malfunction during maintenance work at the site. Crews contained the spill area with assistance from the City of Golden Valley, who provided access to a city sanitary sewer maintenance hole to receive recovered wastewater. Sewer service was not interrupted.
An estimated 1,000 gallons of wastewater was released during the spill. Wastewater reached Bassett Creek. Water quality crews collected water samples to test for potential health and environmental concerns. Bacteria, parasites, and viruses may be temporarily present at the site. Results from these tests will be shared as they come in. Signs warning the public “Do Not Enter/ Sewage Spill” have been placed around affected areas. They will remain in place until the area is verified to be safe.