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Topeka staff say Oakland wastewater building closed for remediation after overflow; testing finds elevated mold and bacteria but no firm link to employee cases
Summary
City officials reported elevated fungal and bacterial levels in several aging buildings at the Oakland Wastewater Treatment Plant after a Dec. 6 sewer overflow. Staff closed the U Building pending remediation; outside consultants and directors said results point to chronic moisture and maintenance gaps rather than a single spill as the definitive cause of employee illnesses.
The Topeka City Council heard a detailed briefing on April 14 about a Dec. 6 sanitary sewer overflow at the Oakland Wastewater Treatment Plant and subsequent testing after several employees sought treatment for respiratory illness.
Utilities Director Sylvia Davis told the council the city called Chavez Restoration to perform emergency mitigation after the overflow, then later closed the U Building as a precaution and relocated staff while it pursued further testing and remediation. "U Building has been closed and will stay closed indefinitely," staff said during the presentation.
Jason Tryon, director of public works, summarized results collected by environmental contractors: visual inspections, internal and external air sampling for fungal spores, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) surface screening and targeted air and surface bacterial sampling. "We did see…
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