WISCONSIN RAPIDS – Thousands of gallons of sewage water overflowed in the Wisconsin River near Second Avenue South amid heavy rains Friday, according to the city. 

About 165,000 gallons of diluted wastewater flowed into the river after about 5 inches of rain fell within a few hours and overtook a sanitary sewer interceptor basin. The city of Wisconsin Rapids announced the Friday flooding in a Monday news release.

Derek Budsberg, superintendent of the Wisconsin Rapids Wastewater Treatment Plant, said the flooding would not have affected basements in the area near the Second Avenue roundabout as the overflow occurred in a water basin leading to the treatment plant. 

The flooding would have affected people recreating in and around the river near the roundabout and they would be exposed to pathogens, such as E. coli, according to Budsberg. However, the threat from the overflow has likely already passed given that spill occurred three days ago, he said.

The last time such a flooding occurred was in 2011, he said. Treatment plant employees are working to clean sewer mains in the area to prevent flooding from happening again.

RELATED:Wisconsin Rapids, get ready for downtown construction this summer as city adds West Jackson roundabout

RELATED:After three major floods in the past decade, Wisconsin River west bank targeted for levee upgrades this spring

Contact reporter Alan Hovorka at 715-345-2252 or ahovorka@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ajhovorka.