A Chemical spill in Bullock Pen Creek has been cleared.
On Wednesday afternoon Sanitation District 1 (SD1), the agency responsible for managing sanitation and sewers in Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties, cleared the river.
The cleanup began after a passerby took a picture of bubbling, chemical-slicked creek water and reported it to the sanitation agency. In a statement from SD1 on its Twitter page, the agency stated that the spill was the result of a build up of rags in the sewer line leading from a nearby industrial facility, which was not named. SD1 confirmed that the blockage was not a hazard.
The statement goes on to say that the chemicals released in the blockage were cleaning materials used in the industrial facility’s own sanitation process. SD1 compared the mixture to “diluted soapy water with a 97 percent water ratio. It does not constitute a public health concern.” The blockage was cleared by early afternoon.
The statement concludes with a warning to readers against flushing sanitary wipes down toilets and other sewer lines, even when they’re marked as safe for septic systems.
“According to a 2020 report by the National Association of Clean Water Agencies, wipes result in about $441 million per year in additional operating costs in the collection systems of US clean water facilities,” the statement reads.
To report a sewage problem to SD1, visit their reporting web page.