Untreated sewage from broken pipes will flow into Tampa reservoir.

The city’s water treatment plant is designed to handle contaminants in river water, including bacteria from sewage, the city’s water director said. The untreated sewage that flowed from two sewer line breaks the week of March 13 near Trout Creek is working its way through the tributary to the Hillsborough River. Environmental officials consider it a major spill, but do not expect the pollution to cause long-term damage to the river or a large fish kill, the manager for the county environmental protection commission said.