Crews with the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District this morning planned to resume cleaning up a discharge of sewage onto a soccer field at St. Bernadette Catholic School, 74 Kearney St.

A resident reported extreme odors in the area to the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District, or MSD, Saturday evening, according to a news release.

An MSD crew investigated and found an 8-inch sewer main blocked by tree roots. Efforts to unblock the sewer main caused sewage to surface onto the soccer field through a buried manhole, the release stated. The blockage was removed and cleanup procedures were immediately implemented.

It is estimated that roughly 100 gallons of sewage surfaced onto the soccer field, impacting a 20-foot-by-50-foot area.

While there is no immediate threat to public health or safety, the public is asked to avoid contact with the field until the cleanup is complete, according to the release.

Cleanup procedures were implemented early Saturday evening and suspended at nightfall. Efforts will resume this morning, the release stated.

Signs have been posted in the area. If anyone should come into contact with the impacted area of the field, they should immediately and thoroughly wash with soap and water.

School administrators have been notified of the discharge and have been asked to suspend use of the field until the cleanup is complete. It is projected the cleanup will be completed today.

The sewer discharge was reported to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, as required by law.