After rain, watch out for sewage overflow

GREATER LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Greater Lafayette residents should look out Thursday for sewage overflows in certain parts of the area.

The Water Pollution Control Department says during rains like the area received Wednesday, the wastewater and storm-water runoff can exceed the capacity of Lafayette and West Lafayette’s combined sewer system.

This means sewers in older parts of the cities can send untreated sewage and rainwater into the waterways.

Officials say you should avoid all contact with water downstream of the combined sewers.

Signs are posted along the waterways to show where these combined sewer areas are – and where contact with water could be hazardous.

Here are some of the affected areas:

- Wabash River downstream of Greenbush Street

- All of Durkees Run Ditch

Here are a few rules to follow when recreating in city waterways:

Avoid contact with urban streams, especially during and three days after a rainfall.

Change your activities to ones that are not in water.

Always wash your hands after touching water in urban streams.

Use a waterless hand sanitizer at outings that happen near these streams.

To find out more about this issue, head to either Lafayette or West Lafayette ’s combined sewer overflow sites.