Burst Pipe Spills Over 16K Gallons Of Sewage In Severna Park

SEVERNA PARK, MD — Tens of thousands of sewage leaked near Cypress Creek over the weekend after a pipe broke in Severna Park, officials said Monday.

The Department of Public Works said the main break was reported in the 800 block of Ritchie Highway.

Emergency personnel were notified of the incident Sunday around 4:30 p.m., with the majority of the overflow being contained on land by 7:30 p.m.

DPW officials said the break spilled about 16,200 gallons of sewage near Cypress Creek, noting only a "small portion" entered the waterway.

Authorities have not specified how much sewage drained into the creek.

Officials said the incident was caused by a force main break.

Any resident who comes in contact with the impacted area is urged to "immediately" wash themselves and their clothing with soap and warm water.

The leak was reported to the county's Department of Health and the Maryland Department of the Environment.

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It comes months after the state dealt with a similar leak in January, when more than 200 million gallons of raw sewage spilled into the Potomac River after a sewer line managed by the D.C. Water utility broke.