At approximately 5:30 PM on Sunday December 11th, The City of Frederick Waste Water Treatment Plant located at 100 Plant Road lost electrical service and as a result, raw sewage spilled into Carroll Creek.
CONTACT: Susan Harding, Public Information Officer, 301-600-1385
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, December 11, 2011
Update on Raw Sewage Spill at City Waste Water Treatment Plant.
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Frederick, MD – At approximately 5:30 PM on Sunday December 11th, The City of Frederick Waste Water Treatment Plant located at 100 Plant Road lost electrical service and as a result, raw sewage spilled into Carroll Creek. At approximately 3:00 AM on Monday, December 12th, The City of Frederick Department of Public Works was able repair the electrical equipment enough to bring the plant back on-line with generator power ceasing the sewage flow. It is determined that approximately 3.5 million gallons of raw sewage over the course of the 9-hour event was spilled into Carroll Creek.
The City of Frederick was in contact with Dr. Barbara Brookmyer, Health Officer, Frederick County Health Department, Mr. George Keller, Frederick County Health Department Director of Environmental Health and personnel from the Maryland Department of the Environment.
The sewage spill occurred downstream of the City’s drinking water intake area which is located north of the affected area. The discharge into Carroll Creek occurred approximately 500 feet upstream of its confluence with The Monocacy River. This confluence is approximately one mile downstream from where The City withdrawals drinking water from the Monocacy River.
The City of Frederick would like to emphasize that there is absolutely no danger to the City’s drinking water source.
The City of Frederick mandates avoidance of all contact with Carroll Creek and the Monocacy River waters immediately downstream of the Gas House Pike Waste Water Treatment Plant until further notice. The area involved has been posted with appropriate warning signs. There are no other restrictions.
The City of Frederick will begin conducting sampling tests of the water in Carroll Creek and The Monocacy River at locations directed by Maryland Department of the Environment and The Frederick County Health Department.
The raw sewage overflow has introduced nutrients that have a short-term effect on stream habitat and aquatic life. As the overflow mixes with larger quantities of un-contaminated water downstream, the affects dissipate.
At this time, the Department of Public Works is investigating to determine the precise cause of the problem. The investigation could take several weeks to complete.
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