12,000 gallons of sewage dumped in Pa. storm drain
Posted: April 12, 2014 - 4:22am
LEBANON, Pa. (AP) -- The state Department of Environmental Protection is investigating allegations that the owner of a Lebanon apartment building intentionally pumped over 12,000 gallons of raw sewage into a storm drain that discharges into a local creek.
Officials said the building's owner, whose name hasn't been released, used a sump pump to remove the sewage Thursday from the building's basement. A DEP spokeswoman called it an apparent violation of the federal Clean Water Act.
DEP officials notified Pennsylvania American Water and United Water, so they could increase their chlorine levels and shut down intake from the Quittapahilla Creek.
The building has been condemned and 10 tenants have been displaced. A septic truck was called in remove some of the 3,000 gallons of sewage left in the basement of the building.