Plymouth's utility superintendent warns of Combined Sewer Overflow due to rain event

Wednesday, June 25, 2025 at 8:35 AM

Plymouth Utility Superintendent Donnie Davidson announced a Combined Sewer Overflow event in the city.

Due to 2.48 inches of rainfall and the heavy intensity of rain over the last 24 hours, the city’s sewer system and wastewater treatment facility have exceeded capacity, resulting in a Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO).

Weather conditions indicate a strong possibility that overflows could occur in the next 72 hours.

The City of Plymouth recommends that affected persons avoid all contact with water downstream of combined sewers. Signage has been posted along our waterways to identify the 10 combined sewer overflow points and where contact with the water could be hazardous to your health. Even during dry weather, the potential also exists, from other sources (wildlife, upstream users, and groundwater discharges), for pollutants to be present in the Yellow River.

AFFECTED AREAS INCLUDE:

Yellow River downstream from Oakhill Ave.

Yellow River downstream from Klinger Street

Yellow River downstream from Elliot Street

Yellow River downstream from Magnetic / Bird Park Area

Yellow River downstream from Cleveland Street

Yellow River downstream from Sixth Street

The City of Plymouth encourages you to take the following protective actions when recreating in the urban area.

· Avoid contact with urban streams, especially during and three (3) days after rain.

· Alter urban stream recreational activities to ones that Do Not contact water. For example, try walking or biking along a stream rather than swimming, wading, or water skiing.

· Always wash your hands after contacting water in urban streams, especially before eating.

· Use a waterless hand sanitizer at outings that occur near urban streams.