Glitch during Y2K test spills 4 million gallons of sewage

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he Associated Press State & Local Wire > > June 17, 1999, Thursday, BC cycle > >SECTION: State and Regional > >LENGTH: 221 words > >HEADLINE: Glitch during Y2K test spills 4 million gallons of sewage > >BYLINE: staffing > >DATELINE: LOS ANGELES > >BODY: > A water reclamation plant malfunctioned during a Y2K test and >spilled 4 >million gallons of sewage into a San Fernando Valley park, authorities >said. > > The effluent flowed out of a manhole near the Donald C. Tillman plant >in >Van Nuys between about 10 p.m. Wednesday and 12:30 a.m. Thursday, said >Linda >Aparicio, a spokeswoman for the city Department of Public Works. > > The effluent flowed about 100 yards into a park. Crews worked through >the >night to vacuum up the spill, but Los Angeles County health officials >recommended that a portion of the park remain closed for two days as a >precaution, Ms. Aparicio said. > > The sewage system was back in operation by Thursday morning. > > The spill occurred while the plant was testing a Year 2000 problem >scenario >in which power failed and an emergency generator kicked in. > > The generator worked, but a gate to a western San Fernando Valley >sewage line >that was closed during the test failed to reopen, Ms. Aparicio said. > > "Our computers did not tell us that gate was closed," she said. "No >one knew >that sewage was backing up from our west main trunk." > > It was unclear whether the problem was related to the test or was >coincidental, Ms. Aparicio said. > > "We're going to have to take a look at everything that was operating >last >night and all facets of the test design," she said. >

-- Daren Henderson (TryChange@aol.com), June 18, 1999

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