City of Eureka Enters Settlement to Fix Overflowing Sewer System

Eureka, Calif., must fix its sewer system, which spills raw sewage into the streets and nearby homes, according to a federal judge in California who approved a consent decree between the city and an environmental organization that sued.

Ecological Rights Foundation alleged that the city’s poor management led to sewer line blockages, cracked and broken sewer lines, and the overwhelming of system capacity during high rainfall, in violation of the Clean Water Act.

According to the consent decree, Eureka must complete a series of inspections on its sewers and manholes by 2026, and perform a systemwide sewer cleaning by 2027. ...