"Sewage Overflows Contaminate Willamette River and Salem Waterways"

Heavy rains in Portland have caused an overflow of stormwater and sewage into the Willamette River, with the current advisory affecting areas downstream of the Ross Island Bridge. The public is advised to avoid contact with the river due to increased bacteria in the water, as the overflow is about 80% stormwater and 20% sewage. This is the first overflow this year, with improvements from the Big Pipe project significantly reducing the frequency of overflows compared to before its completion in 2011.