10:09 AM PDT on Friday, July 7, 2006

By kgw.com and AP Staff

An estimated 1,000 gallons of raw sewage spilled into the Willamette River Thursday night -- about a half-mile south of the Sellwood Bridge.

KGW photo

An aerial view of the Portland area.

People should avoid contact with river water in that area, health officials said.

The sewage came from a private sewer system serving a condominium complex on South East Linn Street.

The spill occurred when the private sewage pump station failed and sewage flowed into a catch basin that drains directly to the river.

The sewage spill began at about 5:30 p.m. Thursday. It ended roughly two hours later when the pump station was repaired.

The Bureau of Environmental Services will provide residents with Clean River programs including, water quality protection, wastewater collection and treatment and sewer installation.