Untreated sewage contaminates San Juan River as floodwaters threaten public health

SHIPROCK

Untreated sewage has entered the flooded San Juan River, Navajo Nation officials said Saturday, warning that contamination could remain long after the water recedes.

“The water in the river right now is contaminated,” Navajo Nation Police Deputy Chief Donnie Kee said during an evening debrief in Shiprock. “Sewage plants in Bloomfield, Farmington, and Shiprock have been impacted and sewage has been released into the water.”

Kee advised residents to stay out of the river and wash thoroughly if they came into contact with the water.

The amount of untreated wastewater released from Shiprock remains unknown. James Fitzhugh Jr., the supervisor of the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority’s wastewater treatment plant in Shiprock, said the facility normally treats about 1 million gallons in a 24-hour period.

Crews put the plant into bypass mode at 11:30 Friday, diverting wastewater into a holding pond.

“Now that holding pond is completely compromised,” Fitzhugh said.

NTUA’s Shiprock district manager said the treatment facilities in Bloomfield, Farmington and Shiprock had been “pretty much swept out.” If sewage backs up on the north side, he said, NTUA may have to discharge it into the already contaminated river.

Devin Neeley, San Juan County’s public relations and film manager, gave a different account of the New Mexico facilities. He said Saturday night that sewer systems on the county side were operating again after floodwater inundated Bloomfield’s treatment plant. Farmington’s plant never shut down, he said, although some of its lift stations experienced problems.

Farmington Public Works officials reported earlier Saturday that two lift stations had to be shut off when floodwaters overtook them. Some neighborhoods were evacuated.

Neither Navajo Nation nor county officials had an estimate of the amount of sewage released.

Kee said contaminated residue could remain after floodwaters evaporate, posing a public health risk that officials would need to evaluate.

Neeley raised similar concerns about contaminated mud, saying cleanup would be “an absolutely huge task.” He did not know whether it could be done, and the county remained focused on rescue operations rather than recovery.

During the county’s briefing, Brad Greenberg, the medical director of emergency preparedness at San Juan Regional Medical Center, said floodwater can contain sewage, animal waste, fuel, pesticides and household chemicals.

“We cannot determine whether or not water is safe just by looking at it or smelling it,” Greenberg said.

He advised anyone exposed to floodwater to remove wet clothing, wash with soap and clean water and make sure their tetanus vaccinations are current.

Sylvester Nez, the Navajo EMS field operations manager, advised livestock owners to provide animals with water from windmills or hauled water instead of the river. He also advised against butchering animals that have been drinking from it.

NTUA reported that its treated drinking water remained safe and that it had no plans to issue a boil order. Farmington shut off its reservoir intakes.

The flooding also forced the closure of the Shiprock bridge about 3 a.m. Saturday, dividing police command between the north and south sides of the river.

By Saturday evening, the bridge had reopened to alternating groups of 10 vehicles, with emergency vehicles given priority. Crews found cracks in two bridge pillars, although officials said the cracks may have existed before the flooding.

More rain is expected, raising concerns about another surge on the San Juan River.

Neeley said most river gauges had failed or washed away. One still operating upstream near the dam showed a spike around 7 p.m. Saturday.

“There is no such thing as water receding at this point,” Neeley said.

Unified command officials in Shiprock are scheduled to hold another briefing at 6 a.m. Sunday. The San Juan County Department of Emergency Management has scheduled another news conference for noon.

County officials expect another surge on the San Juan River overnight and into Sunday.

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