Massive Sewage Spill Near Elizabeth City, NC

[hatrack]

"An underwater force main continued to leak millions of gallons of raw sewage near the city’s downtown waterfront Thursday in what is being called one of North Carolina’s worst spills in years.

By 5 p.m., the city estimated that about 5 million gallons had spilled out of the broken 24-inch force main and continued to boil up to the surface at the mouth of a tributary on the Pasquotank River.

Attempts to pinpoint the problem were cut short Thursday when contaminated water began to leak into a diver’s suit, and officials were trying to figure out what to do next. The protective suit was the only one in Elizabeth City and it was expected to take several hours to get a replacement. The pipe couldn’t be cut off from service because it is a main line to the city’s nearby wastewater-treatment plant.

Eric Weatherly, the city’s utilities director, said the flow of sewage would be limited until repairs could be made. State environmental health officials issued an advisory against swimming in the Pasquotank River because of potential health risks. Since the spill is more than 1 million gallons, Camden, Currituck, Dare, Perquimans and Tyrrell counties have been notified of contamination that could be flowing downriver toward the Albemarle Sound."

EDIT

http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=86025&ran=224408

[BR_Parkway]

1. It's actually in Elizabeth City, NC n/t

[hatrack]

2. Aah! Thanks for the correction!

Sometimes my fingers and brain get disengaged from each other . . . :hi: