You may want to avoid swimming in parts of Sand Creek or Slate Creek any time soon. For one, it’s cold. And two, 10,000 of “sludge” from Newton’s sewer system leaked into the waterways this weekend. According to a City of Newton release, “A valve on the line going from the settling basin (clarifiers) to the digesters failed, causing sludge to be discharged on plant property. Approximately 10,000 gallons of sludge made it to Slate Creek via storm sewers. Slate Creek drains to Sand Creek near the Wastewater Treatment Plant.” This prompted the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to issue an advisory for the two creeks due to potential elevated bacteria and contaminants.
Source: Harvey County Now
