MOBILE, Ala. (WPMI) Authorities in Mobile in Baldwin Counties said Tuesday that torrential rainfall over the weekend caused thousands of gallons of raw sewage spilling into area waterways.
The Baldwin County Health Department said in a release that a lift station and manhole along College Street in Robertsdale are overflowing due to heavy rainfall, sending up to 1,000,000 gallons of sewage into Rock Creek.
Mobile Area Water & Sewer System (MAWSS) said in a release that they responded to 33 sanitary sewer overflows as a result of the heavy downpours on Sunday and Monday. MAWSS said more than 631,000 of raw sewage spilled into Eslava and Three Mile Creeks and the Dog River combined.
Steven Rocker said gallons and gallons of raw sewage are spilling into his Whistler Street neighborhood in Prichard. Rocker said it has been a problem for at least seven years.
"Every time it rains it backflows and comes on our street and our yard," Rocker said. "We've got toilet paper, condoms everywhere. It's a big problem because it does smell when the sun comes out.
"They need to hurry up (and fix it) because I've got a dog I have that loves to play in that stuff when it rains like this."
Mobile and Baldwin County Health Departments are asking those who come in contact with the contaminated waters to wash their hands and clothes thoroughly, and to clean any fish or seafood caught in those waters.
