Watch CBS News

Broken Pipe Leaks 10,000 Gallons Of Sewage Into Maryland Neighborhood

FOREST HEIGHTS, Md. (AP) -- A broken sewer main has leaked thousands of gallons of raw sewage into a Maryland neighborhood.

Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission spokeswoman Lyn Riggins reports an estimated 10,000 gallons of sewage has leaked from a 14-inch crack in a sewer main into the Forest Heights neighborhood, a suburb of Washington, D.C. Riggins says it could be Friday before the leak is stopped and next week before the system is back to normal.

The sewage has leaked into a low area behind a home and also spilled into Oxon Run, a nearby creek.

Riggins says sewer mains are harder to fix than broken water mains. The flow of sewage can't be shut off right away, but has to be rerouted. The repair has required 7,000 feet of temporary pipe.

(Copyright 2015 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.