Sewage Spill Reaches Maryland's Deep Creek Lake

MCHENRY, Md. (AP) -- Garrett County officials say they're monitoring the water quality of Deep Creek Lake after up to 1,700 gallons of raw sewage leaked from a faulty pumping system at a lakeside home in McHenry.

The Department of Public Works said Friday that the leak was reported Thursday morning and quickly stopped.

The agency says a failed valve caused sewage to back up into the basement. A pump in the basement then sent the sewage into the homeowner's yard, where it ran downhill toward the lake.

Officials say they have cleaned up the area and posted signs on the property and along the shoreline.