Talbot County, Maryland

09/10/2026

Category: Public Works

EASTON, MD—On Monday, September 7, 2026, the Talbot County Sanitary District (Sanitary District) was notified by a property owner of evidence of a possible sewer leak at 23669 Mt. Pleasant Circle in St. Michaels. The property owner observed water ponding on the ground and reported the issue by email. The email was sent on a County holiday, and Sanitary District staff became aware of the possible leak on the morning of Tuesday, September 8.

Upon receiving the notification, Sanitary District staff immediately responded to the site and confirmed the discharge. Pump trucks were sent to the area to recover the ponding wastewater, and staff excavated the surrounding area to identify the source of the leak. A contractor repaired the faulty pipe connection responsible for the discharge.

Staff estimated that approximately 500 gallons of wastewater were discharged onto the ground surface and into the surrounding soil. Approximately 300 gallons of the discharged wastewater were recovered. Following completion of the repair and backfilling of the excavated area, Sanitary District personnel applied lime to the affected ground to stabilize the area.

The sewage discharge was reported to the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) shortly after 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 8. A five-day incident report has also been completed.

If the public has any questions regarding the public health determination, they may contact Rachel Leahy, Director of Environmental Health, at 410-770-6880 Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

If the public has questions regarding the discharge or the corrective action that was taken, they may contact Josh Elliott, County Engineer, at 410-770-8170.

Residents who suspect a sewer leak or spill should contact the Talbot County Sanitary District Emergency Line at 1-877-469-3494. The emergency line is monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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