THREE RIVERS, Mich. (WOOD) — The city of Three Rivers says some 50,000 gallons of untreated wastewater made its way into the St. Joseph River earlier this week following problem with its wastewater treatment system.

The city said it realized the problem at 3:30 p.m. Monday. It had a bypass set up within two hours.

It blamed “complications” as it transitioned to a new pump station on Broadway Street. In an update released to News 8 Wednesday, the city said there was some sort of obstruction, but it was still working to figure out exactly where and what caused it.

In the meantime, wastewater is being contained in a new building that can’t yet handle flow and being pumped to the old headworks building, the city said.

People were told to avoid contact with the St. Joseph River between the Broadway Street bridge and Withers Road bridge — that meant no swimming, kayaking, fishing or other water recreation activities. People should also keep their pets out of the water.

The no-contact advisory will remain effect until tests came back confirming water quality is back to normal. The city said on Wednesday that it was still awaiting test results and a decision on next steps from the county health department.