Thousands of gallons of sewage spill in Hillsborough

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HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY (Bay News 9) -- Crews from Hillsborough County water resource services and a private contractor worked Sunday to repair a 20-inch sewage pipeline which broke overnight in the Town 'n' Country area.

The break, which occurred in a section of new pipeline, was near Comanche Avenue, just east of Hanley Road. It is about 100 yards east of a similar break that occurred Sept. 12.

Water resource employees believe at least 300,000 gallons of sewage have spilled from the break so far, with the overflow going into nearby Sweetwater Creek.

Rocky Orihuela, who lives in a condo near the creek, said fish have died from the spill and that he's concerned about wildlife in the area.

"We have manatees here. There's protected birds here and everything and that's what concerns me," Orihuela said. "The smell will go."

Residents along the creek are urged not to have any contact with the water in the creek or the area where it flows into the bay.

County officials say the sewage spill is not affecting drinking water in the area. During the next few days environmental agencies will take water samples and closely monitor the creek's bacteria levels.

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