Blockage Causes Sewer Overflow Near 12 Mile Creek

A blockage in an 8-inch sewer main allowed an estimated 100 gallons per minute to overflow into a dry tributary to 12 Mile Creek on Monday near the 4500 block of Sunset Boulevard, a town official said. 

The tributary was sandbagged and any sewerage was pumped back into the sewer main, according to town spokesperson Jennifer Dowden.

The blockage was removed Monday afternoon, the affected area was cleaned, and hydrated lime was applied to the overflow, she said.

Though the incident reportedly was not severe, testing and water samples will be taken in the affected area near 12 Mile Creek, she added.

The total volume of the overflow and the duration has not yet been established, she said. Lexington Utilities Director Allen Lutz's crew responded to the overflow after being alerted by the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control.

"We will do standardized testing to make sure there hasn't been any other spillage or leakage [into 12 Mile Creek], and we'll work with DHEC to make sure that happens," Dowden said. 

Town officials were alerted to the problem by DHEC, who had received a report of an odor in an area off Sunset Boulevard in the vicinity of Darcy Ambrose Road.

"It wasn't a full spillage, it was an odor. We were able to contain the sewer area and not have it impede within the 12 Mile Creek area," she said. Town officials do not believe any sewage entered the creek, "but we did sampling testing today (Monday) and we'll do sampling testing tomorrow and Wednesday to make sure. But it was highly self contained to where we were able to secure the area."