Updated: 3/30/23 5:02 PM

Water quality results are in

Water quality counts taken between 11:57 a.m. and 1:38 p.m. on Wednesday, March 29, 2023 show E. coli levels at all test sites were below the state and federal water quality E. coli limit of 235 Colony Forming Units (CFU)/100mL of water for recreational swimming, indicating that the sewer spill did not have an immediate impact on water quality in Oak Creek.

Results at each sampling site are shown below:

*CFU and MPN are equivalent

The 235 CFU/100 mL of water limit is a surface water quality standard specific to E. coli set to protect public health.

A map of the testing locations:

Background

On March 28, 2023 at approximately 6:30 p.m., the city of Sedona’s Wastewater Department was notified of a sewer spill occurring at the Mystic Hills Lift Station, at 88 W. Mallard Drive. 

The untreated liquid effluent entered an un-named dry wash that discharges approximately 1,000 feet downstream of the lift station into Oak Creek. Initially the 22,000 gallons of untreated liquid effluent was thought to have discharged into Oak Creek. Upon further evaluation the morning of March 29, 2023, it was determined that the untreated liquid effluent did not actually flow into the creek due to a debris dam that stopped the flow of the liquid effluent. The dam appears to have been formed from recent flooding.

The city does not plan on reporting additional E. coli results for this incident. sewer spill emergencies, call the city’s sewer emergency hotline at (928) 203-5180.

Hotline information

Call (928) 203-5180 to report sewer emergencies or complaints such as:

• backups or sewer overflows
• complaints related to odor
• broken manhole covers
• anything else sewer related

The hotline is operational 24-7, and on-call operators will be notified immediately of after-hour sewer emergencies. Non-emergency complaints will be addressed the next business day.