From Harford County government:
The Harford County Department of Public Works has reported that an overflow of raw of partially treated sewage occurred during the height of Hurricane Irene. The incident occurred at the Bill Bass Sewage Pumping Station located in the unit block of Kennard Avenue in Edgewood.
Officials with DPW reported the incident to the Maryland Department of Environment. The overflow occurred between 1:00 a.m. – 5:30 a.m. on Sunday, August 28, 2011. The overflow of discharge is estimated at approximately 263,000 gallons, and may have reached the Bush River. The hurricane produced above average rainfall that exceeded and overwhelmed the station design. Officials advised the station pumps were pumping at maximum output designed.
In addition to the notification of the Maryland Department of the Environment, the Harford County Health Department was also appraised of the incident. The DPW also posted overflow signage at water entry points as well as the entrance to the area.
The Department of Public Works determined that the overflow of the Bill Bass Sewage Pumping Station was the only such incident of the county’s waste water treatment system during the hurricane. Officials also advised the overflow was mostly heavy clear rain water.
Plans are already underway by the Department of Public Works to upgrade the pump capacity of the Bill Bass Sewage Pumping Station.
For further information regarding the incident, contact James C. Hynes, Jr. of the Department of Public Works, at 410-937-1033.
The Bush River can’t catch a break, topple this with the previous spill we had this past October 2010 from APG treatment plant at Edgewood and it gotta take a toll on some fishing/crabbing. I wonder if this was the same pumping station that dumped last time. Seems to me two times a charm before you need to look at some solutions to prevent a third time.
http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2010-10-05/news/bs-md-apg-sewage-spill-20101005_1_sewage-spill-bush-river-gallons-of-untreated-sewage
I am disappointed that this is the first we heard of the spill was for some mandatory government report rather than a honest and rational concern for public health and well-being.
Spills could have also come from septic systems up and down all Drinking water sources. How far out of norms water quality testing was during and immediately following the Hurricane for different communities in Harford County? I’m curious to know if the testing frequency was smartly increased during this time of risk and how close we came to mandatory boiling recommendations for the various communities.