Talbot County, Maryland

09/24/2025

Category: Public Works County Council

St. Michaels, MD —On Monday, September 22, 2025, between approximately 5:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., the Talbot County Sanitary District responded to a sewage discharge at 25699 St. Michaels Road, near the St. Michaels (Region II) Wastewater Treatment Plant. The overflow was caused by a cracked force main pipe and was quickly contained and repaired.

Upon discovery, the Sanitary District immediately contacted licensed haulers GoodLife and CHT Excavating to assist with containment and cleanup. GoodLife identified the damaged section of pipe, which was removed and replaced the same evening. The system was returned to full operation shortly thereafter.

An estimated 500 gallons of untreated wastewater were discharged, with approximately 1,500 gallons recovered during the response effort. The affected yard area was cleaned using vacuum trucks, and lime was applied by the Talbot County Collection Crew to stabilize and disinfect the impacted ground surface.

The incident was reported to the Maryland Department of the Environment and the Talbot County Office of Environmental Health. Based on the location of the sewage discharge and the quick response, officials confirmed that the discharge did not reach any navigable or shellfish harvesting waters of the State. Environmental Health has determined there is minimal to no public health risk.

This incident occurred within the service area of the St. Michaels (Region II) Wastewater Treatment Plant (State Permit #00-DP-0623, NPDES #MD0023604).

If the public has any questions regarding the public health determination they may contact Brennan Greene, Director of Environmental Health, at 410-770-6880 Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

If the public has questions regarding the discharge or the corrective action that was taken, contact Ray Clarke, County Engineer, at 410-770-8170.

sewage discharge wastewater treatment