A contractor not affiliated with Riviera Utilities caused a sanitary sewer overflow Saturday after striking a sewer force main near the intersection of Michigan Avenue and South Bay Street in Foley, according to the utility.

Riviera Utilities said an estimated 29,620 gallons of wastewater were released into a nearby drainage ditch. The utility said the overflow was contained to the ditch and did not reach any stormwater drainage inlets.

Response crews investigated the incident, repaired the damaged force main and cleaned and disinfected the affected area.

According to Riviera Utilities, a portion of the wastewater was absorbed into the ground, while the remainder was removed by a pump truck. The incident was reported to the Alabama Department of Environmental Management in accordance with state requirements.

Gabriella Chavez is a Report for America corps member who writes about growth and development in Baldwin County and our natural spaces for Gulf Coast Media. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep her writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by visiting https://tinyurl.com/yaf8yf5n.