The Talbot County Council has enacted a temporary burn ban due to drought conditions and extreme heat. For more information, visit talbotcountymd.gov/burnban

Sewage Spill on Thorneton Road, Royal Oak Maryland

03/23/2021

Category: Public Works

On Thursday, March 23, 2021 at approximately Noon, the Talbot County Sanitary District was notified that there was a possible leak in the low pressure sewer system installed along Thorneton Road in Royal Oak.  By 12:15 p.m. Sanitary District personnel were able to close valves in the system to isolate the suspected leak, and the ditch adjacent to the leak where approximately 1,000 to 4,000 gallons of partially treated sewage had spilled was pumped out. 

The sewage spill was reported to the local Environmental Health office at approximately 12:30 p.m. and to the Maryland Department of the Environment at approximately 1:00 p.m.  The contractor arrived at approximately 2:00 p.m. and the area above the leak was excavated to the pipe.  The leak was located and repaired.  No navigable or shellfish harvesting waters were impacted, officials determined.

Talbot County Sanitary District staff spread lime on the ground in the area impacted by the discharge to kill any pathogens that may have been present.  A five-day follow-up report will be filed with the Maryland Department of the Environment by the Sanitary District.

The Talbot County Health Department’s Office of Environmental Health assisted with the investigation of the discharge and determined that due to the amount of partially treated sewage and the distance to navigable waters there was negligible impact to public health and the environment.

If the public has any questions regarding the health determination they may contact Anne Morse, the Director of Environmental Health at 410-770-6880 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday or after hours by contacting the Talbot County Operations Center at 410-822-0095.  The Operations Center will contact the Environmental Health Specialist on call.

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

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