Temporary fix in place for Bullitt County sewage spill
Environmental officials said a sewage treatment plant in Bullitt County will likely be fined after thousands of gallons of raw sewage has spilled into waterways for several days.
A temporary fix is in place for residents in the affected Hunters Hollow neighborhood.
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Wednesday marked day five of the sewage issue in the northern Bullitt County neighborhood. Raw sewage continues to spill onto land and the waterways there. Crews have brought in extra tanks to catch that sewage and treat it.
"It's not the total solution. Part of it will still have to be diverted to us," said Jerry Kennedy, with the Bullitt County Sanitation District.
About 200,000 gallons of the raw sewage is currently spilling from a privately owned sewage treatment plant daily.
The tanks can only hold about 160,000 gallons. As for the rest, it will keep spilling into the tributary behind the plant for now.
"For the rest of the sewage that cannot be treated in these tanks, we are going to be diverting that to two of our other facilities over here," said Kennedy.
The Bullitt County Sanitation District has agreed to route pipes from the privately owned plant to one of Bullitt County Sanitation's plants, where the remaining sewage will be treated.
Officials said it will take time to set it all up, and the spill will likely continue through Saturday.
"It's a public health hazard, period. You just can't -- for days and days and days -- run raw sewage down the creek, so that's why everyone is jumping through hoops as fast as we can to solve this problem," said Kennedy.
The condition of local waterways is being monitored daily.
Officials said from the waters of Brooks Run to the Floyds Fork River, bacteria levels are substantially greater than the water quality standard.
The bacteria could cause fecal-born diseases, like hepatitis and dysentery.
"You would have to come in contact with open wound or drink the water. That's why with pets, (the danger is) they are going to drink water and kiss you," said Kevin Strohmeier, with the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protections.
While the water looks clear, officials said there is dangerous bacteria that people just can't see. They're advising people to keep pets and children away from it.
Drinking water is not affected.
Hunters Hollow is still asking people to conserve water by keeping flushing and laundry to a minimum because that water gets pumped back to the plant.