A high-pressure sewer pipe broke on Tuesday releasing 1.5 million gallons of sewage into Reddy Branch Creek. Repair crews located the source of the leak on Thursday. Reddy Branch Creek eventually leads into Patuxent River as well as the Rocky Gorge Reservoir, which is used for drinking water. Signs have been erected, warning “Sewage Overflow Area” and residents are encouraged to avoid outside water. Once the break is fixed, a pumping station will begin operating, which will end the sewage flow.
Repair crews state that the leak was hard to find, considering that the pipe is located 20-feet underground. There are also utility lines close by that crews are being cautious of. Although the spill is massive, residents’ drinking water has not been affected, but repair crews remain unsure about how long the pipe will take to fix.
