All Palm Desert roads back open after sewage spill

Update: 06/12/17

Traffic lanes near Portola Avenue and Hovley Lane East in Palm Desert were fully reopened to traffic today, following the completion of repairs on a pair of broken sewer pipes that released an estimated 2.4 million gallons of wastewater into the Whitewater River Stormwater Channel.

The June 3 pipe breaks stemmed from water overflowing from a pond at a nearby business, leading to the erosion of a dirt area and the exposure of two sewer pipes that broke, according to the Coachella Valley Water District.

CVWD crews have been working since then to repair and replace the pipes, which necessitated the closure of one lane in all directions near the intersection of Portola and Hovley. CVWD officials said Monday that repairs were completed ahead of schedule, allowing those lanes to be reopened.

Additional repairs will continue, but work to divert wastewater flow through pipes near Portal Avenue and Hovley Lane East has been completed.

The overflow led to the opening of a 25-foot-deep and 50-foot-wide hole, but wastewater spillage was contained to a small portion of the stormwater channel.

CVWD officials said the spillage did not affect any customers’ drinking water, with thick layers of desert sand providing a sufficient filter.

“Sand is a natural filter that removes particles and micro-organisms,” said Steve Bigley, CVWD director of environmental services. “In the Coachella Valley, water drains through hundreds of feet of sand for many decades until it reaches the water table.”

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Original: 06/06/17

The Coachella Valley Water District today said an estimated 2.4 million gallons of wastewater spilled into the Whitewater River Stormwater Channel after a pair of sewer pipes broke in Palm Desert this weekend.

CVWD officials previously said that more than 100,000 gallons of sewage was spilled following the pipe breaks on Saturday night. The updated estimate of spilled wastewater has been reported to the State Water Resources Control Board, according to a CVWD official.

Coachella Valley Water District crews were working to replace pipes that broke after water overflowing from a pond at The First Tee on Cook Street led to the erosion of a dirt area and the exposure of two sewer pipes that broke Saturday night, an official said.

The overflow led to the opening of a 25-feet deep and 50-feet wide hole, but wastewater spillage was contained to a small portion of the storm water channel.

Sewer flow in the area was being diverted through other pipes to prevent service to nearby homes and businesses from being affected, district officials said.

“That is definitely unsettling. I can actually start smelling it now,” said Joshua Morales who was walking past the spill toward Palm Desert High School for the graduation on Tuesday night.

The main diversion site is located near the intersection of Portola Avenue and Hovley Lane East, and prompted one lane to be closed in each of the four directions.

The lane closures are expected to be in place for about two weeks while repairs are being completed.

CVWD officials encouraged motorists to stay away from the intersection as traffic delays were expected.