Sewage Overflows Into St. Maries River

A sewage spill in the St. Maries River is putting a stretch of the river off-limits for the next week.

The public should avoid contact with the water between Fernwood and St. Maries until Feb. 11, according to the Idaho Division of Environmental Quality.

A sewage lift station at Fernwood quit working Tuesday because of electrical problems. That caused 120,000 gallons of raw sewage to overflow into the river, the DEQ said.

Drinking water should never be taken from the river without treatment and disinfection, the DEQ said. , DataTimes