SHIT LOAD IN HONEY WAGON TOO MUCH FOR INDIANAPOLIS BRIDGE

Ewww: Truck spills 2,000 gallons of human waste on Indy's north side

By Sarah Bowman

IndyStar
August 3, 2017

The majority of a roughly 2,000-gallon human waste spill on Indianapolis' north side was vacuumed up Thursday afternoon, while the remaining sewage has been allowed to flow downstream to the White River to dilute, according to officials.

And while that might sound pretty disgusting, the decision and spill poses no serious health threat to the community, said Pam Thevenow, the Marion County Public Health Department's head of water quality and hazardous materials management.

Still, she said the department has posted temporary signs around the spill site at 79th Street and Westfield Boulevard to inform residents. The health department is currently monitoring the creek and taking water samples, most of which will take 24 to 48 hours to come back with results.

"All groups were responsive and got another truck out there and vacuumed up as much as they could," Thevenow told IndyStar.

The spill occurred when a septic company was emptying a private tank at a residence as part of a Citizens Energy Group septic tank elimination project in the area. The valve on the back of the truck broke when the tanker fell through a bridge over Holly Creek, allowing the sewage water to flow out.

The truck was filled to about 3,000 gallons of its 4,000-gallon capacity.

Responders to the scene set up an earthen dam downstream from the spill to prevent the sewage from reaching the White River, which connects to Holly Creek at 75th Street.

The septic contractor sent a second hauler to the scene that was able to fill up 3,000-gallons — waste plus water — in the recovery process, Thevenow said.

"Of course, some of that sewage would be diluted in the water," she added, "but they made sure there was no visible residue or solids left."

Regulators on the scene — including officials from the health department, the state's Department of Environmental Management and the Department of Natural Resources — decided to remove the dam and let the remaining septic fluid flow down to the White River.

Citizens spokesman Dan Considine, who was on the scene, said that there is no fish kill and no smell from the spill, but the water in the creek did appear somewhat black.

He equated the situation to a sewer overflow in Marion County during a heavy rainstorm. Considine added that most sewer overflows during storms are in larger quantities than Thursday's septic spill, and their treatment plants — with its largest being downriver at 16th Street — are equipped to handle sewage.

"This wouldn't be large enough to really create any alarm," he told IndyStar. "If it was a chemical, that would be a different story and problem."

Still, one local resident had some concerns.

Kathryn Patterson, who lives across the street from the spill, said her house was transferred from a septic tank to public sewers about a month ago.

"It's a good program and makes sense for public health, but then you have something like this happen and it sets everything back," said Patterson, who added that she and some of her neighbors are on well water. "I just want verification from the authorities that my water and air are safe, and if not, I want to know what they plan to do about it."

Both Considine and Thevenow said it is on the contractor to take into account the weight of the trucks, especially when full, and the strength of the bridges going to and from the properties. Attempts Thursday to reach the septic company contractor were unsuccessful.

The health department will not cite any party at this time, saying it was an accident. But Thevenow said she hopes this incident heightens the awareness of contractors and residents, especially as efforts with the septic-sewer transition program continue.