Dry Branch Creek Sewage Spill Update

June 10, 2020

CREEK SEWAGE SPILL UPDATE: The McCordsville sewage treatment plant is recovering nicely, according to McCordsville’s DPW Director Ron Crider. And they are continuing to working closely with IDEM every day. 

There was actually no discharge of raw sewage into Dry Branch Creek as the plant continued to operate, but the treatment was without the benefit of the biological activity of the microorganisms (good bugs) that break down organic matter in the waste stream. The good bugs were apparently killed off by the introduction of some substance into McCordsville’s sewer system, which is still being investigated as to the source and nature of the substance. 

New bugs have been introduced at the plant to replace the ones killed off. It will take some time for these bugs to multiply and do their part of the overall treatment process. The effectiveness of the treatment was impaired due to the loss of the biological activity part of the treatment process provided by the good bugs, whose purpose is to break down organic matter.

The pumping of water out of Dry Branch Creek will continue until the Indiana Department of Environmental Management says it is no longer necessary. The pumping started around 7:30 PM Friday night, June 5th, and again, will continue until IDEM and Marion County Health Department are satisfied with testing results. The creek is being tested along various points by these regulatory agencies for Dissolved Oxygen (DO) and Ammonia levels.

The Town of McCordsville is responsible for all costs associated with the response to the event, including the cost to treat the sewage that is being pumped into Lawrence’s sewer system.

For now, residents should continue to avoid Dry Branch Creek and not allow children or pets to play in and around the creek. Once the “all clear” is communicated to Lawrence, we will notify our citizens via social media such as face book and twitter, as well as the City’s website.