MOSES LAKE — Residents and visitors to Moses Lake are being advised to avoid a section of the lake near Montlake Park until further notice. That’s due to the partial break of a sewer line that allowed some untreated water to flow into the lake. The advisory to stay out of the water will be lifted once water tests show that levels of fecal chloroform match upstream and downstream, according to a notice delivered to residents in the area. 

“This advisory is due to the original discharge into the lake, not the planned treated discharge,” the notice said.  

The wastewater line break has forced city officials to use a backup system near Mountlake Park to discharge treated water into the lake. 

“The emergency outfall was designed for this purpose specifically,” according to a city press release.  

Repairs on the wastewater line began Tuesday, but Lynne Lynch, city communications and marketing specialist, said there’s no timeline for completion yet.  

The partial break was discovered early Monday morning. Curt Campbell, Moses Lake wastewater manager, said in a Monday interview that the break is in a major segment of the city’s sewer system. Public works crews stopped any flow to the broken line.  

Campbell said the broken line did allow untreated wastewater to flow into the lake.  

While it’s being fixed, the city is using its backup system. Montlake Park and its boat launch are still open, but people using the park are advised to stay out of the water and keep their pets out of the water as well. 

Signs are posted in the park, the release said.  

Lynch said there’s an alternative boat launch and swimming area at Blue Heron Park and an alternative boat launch at Cascade Park. There’s no swimming area at Cascade Park. 

The city has a way for people to report emergencies involving city infrastructure – a broken sewer or broken water line, for example – after business hours.  

“We have a weekend response system,” Lynch said. 

People can call 509-764-3951 and pick option 1 to report an emergency with the water or wastewater systems, stormwater system or city streets.  

    People are being advised to avoid some sections of Moses Lake due to the need to use the emergency discharge system from the city’s wastewater treatment facility.