Three Rivers Wastewater Treatment Plant discharges 50,000 gallons of wastewater into St. Joseph River

THREE RIVERS, Mich. -- The Three Rivers Wastewater Treatment Plant reports approximately 50,000 gallons of untreated wastewater was discharged into the St. Joseph River on Monday during the transition to the new pump station on Broadway Street.

Plant officials say the issue was identified at 3:30 p.m. that day.

Officials advise people to avoid any body contact with the St. Joseph River from the Broadway Street Bridge to the Withers Road Bridge.

They say this includes any type of body contact with the river for recreational activities such as tubing, kayaking, swimming, canoeing, or fishing.

Animals should also be kept out of the water at this time.

Plant officials say the advisory will remain until water samples from the river have been analyzed and demonstrate coliform levels are back at normally expected amounts.

Officials say if you've had contact with the river after 3:30 p.m., Monday, it's advised you take a shower and wash any clothing that was in contact with the river.

Pets should also be washed if they made contact with the water.

The discharged wastewater will flow toward South Bend.