Talbot County, Maryland

12/16/2024

Category: Public Works

Sewage Discharge from a manhole serving Harbor Inn with up to 150-gallons discharged onto the road outside the St. Michaels Harbour Inn Marina & Spa in St. Michaels, Maryland.

On Sunday, December 15, 2024, at approximately 1:00 p.m., the Talbot County Sanitary District (Sanitary District) was contacted regarding a suspected discharge of sewage from a manhole in West Harbor Road.  Personnel from the Sanitary District arrived on site at 1:30 p.m. and confirmed the discharge of approximately 150 gallons of raw sewage onto the surface of the ground.  No wastewater was observed to have discharged into St. Michaels Harbor.

Sanitary District staff immediately contacted Livingston Septic Service to assist with the cleaning of the sewer line and to pump out the manhole.  It was determined that the sewage backup was associated with grease. After the grease had been removed from the sewer line, staff from the Talbot County Sanitary District spread lime to cover the wet portion of the pavement.  Sanitary District Staff will also review the grease management plans of the restaurants in the area to help minimize future overflows resulting from grease blockages.

With 150-gallons of raw sewage being discharged onto the ground, the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) was contacted at approximately 2:30 p.m.  Environmental Health was notified of the spill on Sunday, December 15, 2024, via a voice message, and on Monday, December 16, 2024, staff from Environmental Health was advised of the spill in person.    

Based on this determination, no imminent threat to public health or the environment was found in association with the discharge. If the public has any questions regarding the public health determination they may contact Brennan Greene, Director of Environmental Health at 410-770-6880 Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., or after hours by contacting the Talbot County Operations Center at 410-822-0095. If the public has questions regarding the discharge or the corrective action that was taken, they may contact Ray Clarke, County Engineer, at 410-770-8170.

sewage public works mde enivornmental health