Sewage Spill in Worcester County discovered by COASTKEEPER on July 3.
County Official says this was a 'routine break'......interesting - are Worcester County sewer pipes breaking on a routine basis??
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| FM7 13" pipe exposed |
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| On July 3, 2008 the COASTKEEPER received a phone call complaining about a 'sewage like' smell coming from a forested area on Rt. 611 located between Assateague Pointe and Frontier Town.
The Coastkeeper went to investigate, knowing this section of woodland belonged to the County and was adjacent to the Assateague Pointe wastewater treatment plant which also treats wastewater from Frontier Town. Walking into the woods, which were not posted, the Coastkeeper discovered an exposed 13" diameter pipe marked as FM7 that was pumping foul, odorous liquid onto the forest floor at 3-4 minute intervals and she immediately called the proper department in Worcester County government.
While taking photos of the scene, which was a soggy bog extending at least 50 yards to each side of the exposed pipe and a series of pools of standing liquid at least 3" deep, a Public Works representative drove up and made a couple phone calls for back up help. He also proceeded to tell the Coastkeeper that he knew what the pipe was and according to him, the fluid was 'treated effluent'. Unfortunately, while he was making this statement a tampon applicator floated to the top of the pipe and flowed out into the puddles of standing liquid.
At this point, the Coastkeeper took water samples from the pipe and from the standing water adjacent to the pipe and in nearby puddles, which were delivered to a water testing lab in Salisbury a short time later. The water is being tested for bacteria levels, e-coli, and nitrogen to determine if the leaking substance was treated effluent, or raw sewage.
The COASTKEEPER intends to find out why this condition was allowed to exist for so long that a virtual bog had been created in the woods and why the County was not regularly inspecting and monitoring this site.
More information will be posted to this site during the week of July 7. |
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| liquid flowing up and out of FM7 pipe |
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Lab results for samples taken 7/3/08
inside open FM7 pipe-
Total Coliform, MPN >9678.4
E. coli, MPN >9678.4
standing water next to open FM7 pipe-
total Coliform, MPN >2419.6
E. coli, MPN >2419.6
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Lab results for samples taken 7/8/08 after county made repairs
standing water next to FM6 marker-
total Coliform, MPN >3024.5
E. coli, MPN >811
standing water adjacent to gravel roadway @ marker FM6-
total Coliform, MPN > 2419.6
E. coli, MPN >387.3 |
click on thumbnail photos below to see a larger image.
These photos were taken on 7/3/08 at the time the spill was discovered.
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