Nearly 2,300 gallons of sewage spilled from a manhole in Norcross just before noon Monday, the Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources said.
The spill began at 11:59 a.m. at 4334 Windward Circle, the department said. The spill was stopped by 1:40 p.m.; by then, 2,283 gallons had spilled, with some entering an unnamed tributary of Beaver Ruin Creek.
The spill was caused by wipes, paper and other products. Items labeled “flushable,” like bathroom wipes, sometimes do not break down in the sewer, causing clogs that lead to spills, the department said.
The department raked the area and spread lime in order to mitigate the effects of the spill. Signs were posted to alert residents to the spill and the Georgia Environmental Protection Division was notified. Exposure to raw sewage generally poses the risk of diseases and infections including gastroenteritis and E. coli.
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