LINCOLN CITY — A break in a main sewer line early Thursday released about 4,800 gallons of sewage at the corner of SE Inlet Avenue and SE 9th Street, according to a city press release.

The spill started around 3 a.m. on July 23. Lincoln City Wastewater crews repaired the broken line by 11 a.m. the same morning.

Public Works Director Stephanie Reid said the sewage traveled around the corner and down SE 9th Street before entering a storm drain at the corner of Highway 101. That storm line drains into the D River. Warning signs are posted in the affected area.

The Oregon Emergency Response System and the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) were notified.

Update — July 24, 2026, 8:45 p.m. Michael Loch, Public Affairs Specialist for DEQ’s Northwest Region, responded Friday evening to an inquiry from Boiler Bay Beacon:

“DEQ is in touch with Lincoln City to address the spill. The city put out signs warning the public of the potential health risk and is doing fecal testing. Signs will be removed by the city once fecal testing shows there is no longer a potential health risk. DEQ will continue to work with the city throughout this process.”

Loch noted the delay in responding was due to ongoing wildfire smoke communications work.

D River Beach has seen multiple temporary public health advisories from the Oregon Health Authority in past years when fecal bacteria levels climbed, including periods of active monitoring.

City crews contained the spill within eight hours and made the required notifications. Residents and visitors should follow the posted warning signs.