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1 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Gap fire balloons to nearly 13,000 acres ... Josephine County wildland blaze sees no overnight growth ... Man sentenced to 31 years for sex trafficking ... Gap fire balloons to nearly 13,000 acres ... Josephine County wildland blaze sees no overnight growth ... Man sentenced to 31 years for sex trafficking ... MEDFORD PUBLIC WORKS Medford sewage leak could cost up to $300,000 Leak was contained to a vault, officials say Comment By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm Posted Aug. 29, 2016 at 4:26 PM Updated Aug 29, 2016 at 4:36 PM By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm Posted Aug. 29, 2016 at 4:26 PM Updated Aug 29, 2016 at 4:36 PM » Social News One of two main sewer lines at Medford's wastewater treatment plant on Kirkland Road in White City sprang a leak recently, dumping raw sewage into an underground vault. "We need to get this fixed ASAP," Brice Perkins, Medford Public Works operation manager, told the City Council Thursday. The council authorize spending up to $300,000 to make repairs on the 48-inch line, the smaller of two lines that transport raw sewage through the treatment plant. Alex Georgevitch, deputy Medford Public Works director, said the vault primarily is used to access a flow meter, and the leak occurred in a 48-inch coupling. "It was all contained in the vault," he said. "No water escaped from the vault." Sewage flowed into a drain in the vault, and a pump pushed the water back into the treatment facility. The 48-inch line was shut down, and sewage was shunted to a 60-inch line that is used for backup and for increased demand during winter months. Georgevitch said operators noticed the leak after they stopped receiving a signal from the flow meter. Further inspection showed the steel couplings were corroded, along with the pipe itself. Repairs will include installing a plastic membrane material inside a 150-foot length of pipe and replacing fittings with stainless steel for longer durability to withstand the gritty sewer water, Georgevitch said. Public Works wants to get the 48-inch line fixed in October before the rains come. Georgevitch said Public Works needed enough lead time to order parts because the meter and couplings are custom made. He said the hope is that repairs will cost less than the $300,000 authorized. The treatment plant, built in the 1960s, processes sewage from Medford, Central Point, Jacksonville, Phoenix, Talent, Eagle Point, White City and other areas of Jackson County. Katherine Benenati, a spokeswoman for the Oregon Department of Water Quality, said her agency is aware of the leak but will take no action because it was contained within the system. "It's not the type of issue they are required to report to us," Benenati said. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 541-776-4476 or [email protected] . Follow him on www.twitter.com/reporterdm . By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm Posted Aug. 29, 2016 at 4:26 PM Updated Aug 29, 2016 at 4:36 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501