275,000 Gallons Of Waste Spill In Ballenger Creek, Monocacy River

FREDERICK, Md. (AP) -- Frederick County officials are trying to determine why a sewage treatment plant malfunction went unnoticed for 90 minutes.

The Frederick News-Post reports that 275,000 gallons of partially treated wastewater spilled into Ballenger Creek early Wednesday morning. The waste then flowed into the Monocacy River.

County utilities chief Kevin Demosky says a pump-station control malfunctioned about 3:45 a.m. He says an alarm light and horn were supposed to alert the two employees on duty, but no one responded until 5:15 a.m.

Demosky says the spill was reported to the Maryland Department of the Environment and the county health department.
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