WASHINGTON TWP. (WWJ) — A Public Health Advisory is in effect in Northern Macomb County as a result of a potentially dangerous sewer leak.
The Macomb County Health Department issued the advisory late Wednesday afternoon in response to a sewer leak near the intersection of Hayes Road and 25 1/2 Mile Road in Washington Township.
Officials said roughly 21,000 gallons of sewage were pouring into the Middle Branch of the Clinton River every hour due to the sewage leak.
The Macomb County Health Department have completed construction of temporary fix — a bypass that re-route sewage around the leak.
They're now working on longer term solutions, which will take some time.
There’s still no word on the cause of the leak.
Health officials are telling Washington Twp. residents to avoid direct contact with the Middle Branch of the Clinton River.
The health department is also telling residents to:
• Conserve the use of household water through Friday, January 31
• Consider using paper plates to avoid having to use water to wash dishes.
• Avoid showering and using the dishwasher and/or washing machine.
• Minimize flushing – if possible, only flush when solids are in the toilet.
• Turn off the water to brush teeth.
• Avoid “pooling” or “ponding” water.
Earlier. Township Supervisor Sam Previti said it was all hands on deck with repairs underway.
"We have an outside vendor that's out there pumping as well as our crews all night," Previti said. "We have a pipe that's been ordered; it's coming in overnight from Grand Rapids to be installed in the morning.
"And in the meantime... we're pumping the sewage out basically to divert the water from going into the Clinton River."
Previti is asked residents in this area to try to limit their water usage at this time.
If you happen to have contact with human sewage, health officials say to:
• Wash hands with soap and water immediately after handling human waste or sewage — including before eating or drinking and after using the toilet
• Avoid touching face, mouth, eyes, nose, or open sores and cuts while handling human waste or sewage.
• Keep open sores, cuts, and wounds covered with clean, dry bandages.
• Use waterproof gloves to prevent cuts and contact with human waste or sewage.
• Do not smoke or chew tobacco or gum while handling human waste or sewage.
• Gently flush eyes with safe water if human waste or sewage comes into contact with the eyes.
• Talk to your doctor or nurse about any symptoms of being sick from sewage.
• Seek appropriate treatment from your doctor if diagnosed with a bacterial or viral illness, or parasite.
• Keep up to date on all your vaccines (Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, tetanus, polio, typhoid fever)
This is a developing story. Stay tuned to WWJ Newsradio 950 for the latest updates as they become available. >>> LISTEN LIVE!