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Untreated raw sewage is once again gushing into Puget Sound near Seattle after overnight heavy rains overwhelmed a major wastewater treatment plant that is still undergoing repairs from a previous equipment failure last week.

King County officials said the West Point Treatment Plant near Discovery Park is operating at only about 50 percent of its normal capacity since last week's storm crippled some equipment there and flooding in portions of the plant.

As a result, heavy rains overnight caused a partial bypass of combined wastewater and stormwater flows from the plant into the Sound, beginning at about 3:30 a.m. Wednesday.

In a prepared statement, officials said flows are now bypassing through the emergency outfall at a rate of approximately 50 million gallons per day. About 90 percent of the overflow is stormwater and 10 percent is untreated sewage.

West Point, one of the largest wastewater treatment plants in Western Washington, has been operating at about half of its designed capacity while cleanup and restoration activities continue following the Feb. 9 equipment failure during an intense storm that led to flooding in portions of the plant.

Teams of responders restored reduced primary treatment within a day, and crews have been working to bring the treatment plant up to full capacity ever since. Crews and contractors continue cleaning the treatment plant and assessing damage to equipment and systems as a result of the Feb. 9 flood.

Meanwhile, health officials are warning people to avoid contact with water at North Beach and South Beach in Discovery Park, as well as nearby surrounding waters of Puget Sound. Signs are posted at both beaches warning of the pollution dangers.

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