A broken pipe created a major sewage spill in Brookhaven this week that polluted public waterways, according to DeKalb County's government.

County officials warned residents Friday to stay away from the waterway until further notice.

The spill occurred near Nancy Creek and Mill Creek Road. The county reported the spill Thursday to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Georgia Environmental Protection Division.

The spill was caused by a 10-inch diameter pipe that broke when erosion wore away soil that was supporting it, according to the county.

County workers are making repairs, and the extent of the spill is still being evaluated. It’s unclear how many gallons of sewage were spilled.

DeKalb is under a federal court order to upgrade its sewer system and reduce frequent spills.

The county has paid $924,000 in fines for spills to state and federal environmental regulatory agencies since 2011.

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