(This story was updated to include new information)
City officials are asking all West Salem residents to reduce water usage Friday after a significant sewer main break.
Drinking water remained safe for all uses.
“Cooperation is critical in helping to resolve this issue quickly,” officials said in a statement, adding that reducing water use will help avoid further strain on the sewer system and prevent overflows by slowing the flow of wastewater being released into creeks, streams and the Willamette River.
Due to the location of the sewer main breaks, only West Salem residents are being asked to reduce their water use at this time.
A sewer main break reported around 4:30 p.m. Thursday near Bowden Lane and Trent Avenue closed the 24-inch pressurized sewer main that transports wastewater to the Willow Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant.
To manage the situation, Salem Public Works shut down the flow from the broken 24-inch main, leaving only an adjacent 18-inch main for service for West Salem.