DEP investigates sludge spill

By Stephanie Prokop, Staff Writer
BORDENTOWN TOWNSHIP—The state Department of Environmental Protection is investigating a sewage spill that entered the Blacks Creek waterway.
    Several employees noticed the spill while reporting to work Oct. 19, according to a release from the Bordentown Sewage Authority. They noticed an overflow of waste in the Sewage Authority’s basement, stated the release.
    During the initial assessment it was noted that some waste had entered a catch basin and had entered the Blacks Creek waterway.
    It was estimated that an approximate 400,000 gallons of sewage was spilled, said DEP spokeswoman Karen Hershey Wednesday. Not all 400,000 gallons were spilled into the waterway, said Ms. Hershey.
    The employees immediately took action to clean the waste up with vacuum trucks, and the state DEP was notified, the statement said.
    The DEP has visited the site to be sure that the cleanup was satisfactory, said the release.
    Ms. Hershey said that the sludge that had leaked was already processed sewage and that the authority was required to send a report detailing the spill.
    “No decision has been made as to what enforcement action may or may not be taken,” she said, “At that time we will review that report and we will make a determination as to what action may be taken,” she added.