Santa Cruz County in southern Arizona says there is no longer any wastewater or raw sewage spilling from an international pipeline that broke last week.
Authorities say workers have installed a temporary pipeline around the damaged section of the International Outfall Interceptor, diverting the sewage to a treatment plant. They found the breach on July 25 in a sparsely populated area near Rio Rico, Arizona.
Authorities said the pipe broke in the Nogales Wash, which was then contaminated with excessive levels of E. coli. Residents are told to keep out of the Santa Cruz River and livestock owners should keep their animals away. The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality is continuing daily testing of the water.
Authorities believe the break occurred because excessive rainwater put too much pressure on the pipe.
