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.

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