A significant sewage line rupture near the East Snyder County Sewage Treatment Facility in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, has resulted in raw sewage spilling into the Penns Creek, lower Middle Creek, and subsequently flowing into the Susquehanna River. The rupture, which was discovered early on Sunday (September 22), is from a 20-inch sewage line that typically moves an average of two million gallons of sewage daily from several communities, including Selinsgrove, Shamokin Dam, and Penn Township. As of Monday (September 23), authorities were still unsure when the pipe would be repaired.
As of 9:30 a.m. on Monday, a temporary sleeve was installed on the ruptured sewage line, and a pipe for long-term repairs was expected to arrive later that day, according to Northcentralpa.com.
Residents of Shamokin Dam Borough, Monroe Township, Penn Township, and Selinsgrove Borough are requested to limit water use until repairs can be made. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and officials from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission are on the scene assessing the situation.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environment Protection has recommended people avoid doing things like fishing, boating and swimming in impacted waterways, including the Susquehanna for 20 miles downstream of Selinsgrove to the Liverpool area in Perry County.
The DEP says that public drinking water supplies in the area are safe.
Officials from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boating Commission say there are no associated deaths of any aquatic life. They say someone is monitoring the situation.
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