Crews work to replace damaged pipeline amid sewage spill

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PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — Crews attempted to replace a damaged sewer pipe Friday after an electrical contractor accidentally broke it Wednesday, causing thousands of gallons of sewage to spill into the street.

While homeowners like Shawn Kolanda are pleased to see progress, they’re worried about the spill’s environmental impact.

“We’re 30-some hours into this and it’s still in this waterway,” he said. “It’s terrible and you can smell it. You can see the bugs, you can see the discoloration. ”

The water traveled from the pipeline break near Olean and Conway boulevards through the storm drain system, according to the utilities officials.

Utilities staff stopped the flow at 11 p.m. Wednesday, about two hours after they were alerted to the break. A total of about 25,000 gallons of untreated wastewater came out of the pipe, but approximately 9,000 gallons were recovered by tanker trucks, the officials said.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection tested the quality of several water samples and are awaiting the results. However, the department did confirm the spill didn’t impact drinking water in the area.

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