AUBURN – An estimated 25,000 gallons of raw sewage flowed into the Androscoggin River Tuesday about 1,200 feet north of the South Bridge from a broken sewer pipe on Newbury Street.

The Auburn Water & Sewerage District was notified of a broken six-inch water main on Newberry Street at 2:30 p.m. Water rushing downhill washed away soil over and under a 36-inch sewer pipe, causing a 60-foot section to become exposed. The sewer line sagged and opened up at a pipe joint allowing a flow of about 50 gallons per minute to the river, said AW&SD Superintendent Norm Lamie.

The Ted Berry Co. of Livermore Falls assisted a AW&SD crew to establish a bypass pumping operation by about 8 p.m. Tuesday.

“The important thing is there was no wastewater going in the river as of mid-evening last night,” Lamie said Wednesday.

The replacement of water main and sewer line was completed at 5:30 a.m. Wednesday. The sewer line on Newbury Street is expected to be in operation sometime on Thursday after backfill and restoration work is completed. “We’re going to continue bypassing through the night,” he said.

Work to repair the water and sewer lines continued through the night with the help of three contractors. H.E. Sargent of Old Town provided 36-inch sewer plugs, which Lamie said are difficult to find in Maine. Gendron & Gendron of Lewiston assisted with laborers and equipment for the excavation work.

E.J. Prescott of Gardiner sent a truck to Barre, Mass., and picked up a 36-inch sewer pipe.

“There was not enough 36-inch pipe in the state of Maine to make the repair,” Lamie said.

He said the AW&SD notified the Maine Department of Environmental Protection.

The Lewiston-Auburn Water Pollution Control Authority reported that there was no discernible flow change late Tuesday.