By Jillian MacMath, AccuWeather.com Staff Writer
August 6,2016; 9:00PM,EDT
Jay Apperson, a spokesman for the Department of Environment, told AccuWeather that roughly 5 million gallons of sewage per day have been flowing into the Sucker Branch tributary of the Patapsco River.
The leak was not discovered until Tuesday, three days after storms unleashed over 6 inches of water in just two hours across Ellicott City.
Crews struggled to repair the break on Thursday, as an access road leading to the site was washed away by powerful floodwaters last week.
Steep terrain and other environmental conditions added to the challenges, the Howard County Department of Health said.
On Wednesday, the leak prompted the Anne Arundel County Department of Health to close a section of the Patapsco River to swimming and other direct water contact.
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PHOTOS: Raging floodwaters rip through Ellicott City, Maryland
WATCH: People cling to cars swept away by flooding in Ellicott City, Maryland
Deadly flooding swept through Ellicott City on July 30, washing away
cars and causing severe structural damage to area buildings. (Twitter
photo/@djcrome)"The Department advises people coming in contact with the affected water to wash well with soap and warm water immediately. Clothing should also be washed," according to a press release.
In addition to coping with environmental concerns, the city has warned of structural damage to buildings on Ellicott City's Main Street. Engineers say collapse is imminent for at least two buildings if they are not stabilized.
Ellicott City is part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area and is home to over 65,000 people.
The area is no stranger to devastating floods, after sustaining severe damage from Hurricane Agnes in 1972. Tropical Storm Lee also deluged the city in 2011.
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