March 26, 2012 - The Anne Arundel County Department of Health has ordered an emergency closing and warns against direct water contact for a section of the Patapsco River in Brooklyn, Maryland. The affected area includes the section of the river from Annapolis Road downstream. The closing is due to a sewage spill of more than 17 million gallons caused by a force main break at the Baltimore County Patapsco Pumping Station on March 25.
The overflow is ongoing with about 17 million gallons of sewage released daily. Baltimore County Department of Public Works has enlisted utility contractors to restore the line. Repairs are expected to be completed by Thursday. See http://www.aahealth.org/pdf/patapsco-pumping-station.pdf.
The Department of Health has posted emergency closing signs along the section of the Patapsco River, and the closure will remain in effect until further notice. People coming in contact with the affected water are advised to wash well with soap and warm water immediately. Clothing should also be washed.
For more information on the status of the closing, visit www.aahealth.org, or call the Water Quality Line, 410-222-7999.
Subscribers to the Recreational Water Quality E-mail Alerts will receive e-mail notifying them when the waterway has been reopened.
