PORTLAND, MI (AP) -- Officials in Portland, Mich., say vandals tossed tree limbs down a manhole and caused a sewage backup that released untreated wastewater into the Grand River. The Sentinel-Standard of Ionia reports an estimated 13,000 gallons of wastewater was released into the river over a period of about two weeks before the release was stopped on Sunday.
Portland City Manager Tom Dempsey says the incident "was definitely an act of vandalism." The city about 40 miles east of Grand Rapids is looking at measures to prevent future sewage releases, including better securing manholes.
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