Raw sewage leaks into Baltimore stream for 8 days

BALTIMORE (AP) — Officials say raw sewage leaked into a West Baltimore stream for eight days before crews fixed a broken sewer pipe.

The Department of Public Works said Thursday that an estimated 17,500 gallons of sewage flowed into Gwynns Falls over an eight-day period.

The leak, found Sept. 24, began after a tree fell and exposed sanitary sewer pipe. Sewage was flowing at about one tenth of a gallon per minute when the leak was found. After crews removed the tree two days later, the leak surged to 2 gallons a minute.

The department says that flow continued until a full repair was made Oct. 2, when the state was notified of the leak. It’s unclear why the department didn’t disclose information about the leak sooner.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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