60,000 gallons of sewage spills into Tom’s Bayou

The spill was near Hidden Cove Townhomes and the area affected includes Tom’s Creek and extends to State Road 20 in Valparaiso, according to the Department of Health.

Raw sewage has entered an area of Tom’s Bayou leading the Florida Department of Health in Okaloosa County to issue a health advisory.

The spill was near Hidden Cove Townhomes and the area affected includes Tom’s Creek and extends to State Road 20 in Valparaiso, according to the Department of Health. The entire area is reportedly about 2,450 feet by 590 feet.

According to a report filed by the City of Valparaiso, 60,000 gallons of raw sewage was released due to equipment failure at a lift station in Okaloosa County. It is not known whether any sewage entered storm drains, but officials say it did it enter Tom’s Bayou.

Cleanup actions are underway, and Okaloosa County Water and Sewer is performing water quality monitoring and testing.  The health advisory will be lifted once satisfactory results are achieved.

Waters contaminated with wastewater presents several health hazards to humans and may contain untreated human sewage with microbes that could cause gastro-intestinal and other diseases. Anyone who comes into contact with the effected waterway should wash thoroughly, especially before eating or drinking. Children and older adults, as well as people with weakened immune systems, are particularly vulnerable to disease so every precaution should be taken if in contact with the affected waters.