Home / Environment / Sewage Spill Fouls Fayette County Woods
Sewage Spill Fouls Fayette County Woods
24 Jul
Summary
- Raw sewage found spilling into woods after clogged manhole.
- Residents complained for weeks, but authorities were slow to respond.
- Concerns raised about wildlife and environmental impact of the spill.
A community in Fayette County is seeking accountability after a substantial raw sewage spill was discovered in nearby woods. The issue reportedly began approximately three weeks ago with a clogged manhole, leading to a foul odor affecting residents.
Residents expressed frustration over the delayed response from local authorities. One resident noted that after complaining for years about odors from the sewage authority, he pointed supervisors to the problem location indirectly, stating, 'go find it.' The fire chief eventually called the DEP on Wednesday night.
The sewage authority initially claimed ignorance but later stated their employee found the leak on Thursday, attributing it to thousands of flushable wipes. They asserted no environmental impact, with plans to use lime on affected soil. However, residents fear for the numerous wildlife species present in the woods.
The Department of Environmental Protection has been engaged and sent a crew to assess the situation on Thursday. A statement from the Luzerne Township Fire Chief emphasized the need for equal representation and resource allocation for smaller communities, suggesting that infrastructure issues in less affluent areas can be overlooked.
A jet line truck arrived Thursday afternoon to clear the blockage. KDKA Investigates is awaiting an official statement from the DEP regarding any potential violations found at the spill site.
