News Briefs: Portland's 'Big Pipe' System Overflows

Heavy rains in the Pacific Northwest recently overwhelmed Portland's "Big Pipe" system, prompting city officials to issue a combined sewer overflow advisory for the Willamette River. Although the massive infrastructure is designed to hold up to 100 million gallons of stormwater and sewage, it reached 100% capacity Dec. 9. Concurrently, the intense rainfall triggered a separate wastewater overflow upstream in Oregon City, reported by Clackamas Water Environment Services. That spill occurred at a manhole near McLoughlin Boulevard, leading officials to post warning signs and advise the public to stay out of the water in the area.Governors Petition EPA on Microplastics Led by