Laurel, MD – Health officials in Anne Arundel and Howard counties issued health warnings Saturday, July 30 after a sewage spill was reported Friday. The incident reportedly resulted in the spillage of approximately 2 million gallons of raw sewage into the Patuxent River.
According to county government officials in both affected jurisdictions, crews posted signs Friday afternoon, July 29 telling people to stay out of the river and avoid swimming and fishing until further notice.
The Baltimore Sun reports the sewage line that spewed the filth into the river is connected to the Little Patuxent Water Reclamation Plant, which serves more than half of Howard County’s population.
A Washington, DC radio station, WTOP, quoted a Howard County spokeswoman as saying a large collection of grease blocked the normal sewage flow, resulting in the spill. The grease was likely an accumulation from several household drains where residents pour cooking grease down kitchen sink drains.
Public works crews from the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission are working to flush the tainted material from the water.
The Patuxent River begins in the Mount Airy area, travels through several jurisdictions, including Howard, Anne Arundel and Prince George’s counties, widening as it reaches the Southern Maryland counties—Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s—before intersecting with the Chesapeake Bay. There are no reported restrictions in effect for the southern portion of the river at this time.