An estimated 54,000 gallons of raw sewage spilled into the Boardman River during an hours-long leak Thursday caused by flooding and a city pump failure.

Heavy rains dumped more than two inches of water - climbing up to three-plus inches in select areas - on Traverse City in a short period of time Thursday afternoon. The flash flood overwhelmed a city pump station on East Front Street, causing untreated raw sewage to be released into the Boardman River. Director of Municipal Utilities Art Krueger says one of the station’s three pumps failed, the result of an apparent software glitch. The sewage spill started at 2pm and took several hours to stop. A portable emergency pump was brought to the station to assist in the event of additional rains or flooding Thursday night, according to Krueger

City staff estimates released Friday to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) calculated that 54,000 gallons of sewage leaked into the Boardman River during the event. The Grand Traverse County Health Department issued a public health advisory due to the sewage spill. A no-body-contact advisory is in effect for surface waters in the following locations: the Boardman River from the pedestrian bridge near the Michigan Department of Natural Resources weir downstream to the mouth at West Grand Traverse Bay; private beachfront property east of the Boardman River to Bryant Park; Clinch Park Beach; Sunset Park Beach; Bryant Park Beach; and the Traverse City Senior Center Beach.

The advisory will remain in place until water testing results demonstrate that the affected waters meet EGLE standards for E.coli levels, with the Health Department expected to conduct testing this weekend.