A sewer overflow near Bel Air sent an estimated 750,000 gallons of raw sewage into the Bynum Run watershed, triggering a health warning for nearby waterways. The release was reported Wednesday and repaired overnight, but residents are being told to keep away from the water for at least a week. Cleanup crews and warning signs are now in place.
The Harford County Health Department was notified around 2:50 p.m. Wednesday about a sanitary sewer overflow near Sunny View Road, according to FOX45 News. The county’s Department of Public Works resolved the overflow at approximately 2:30 a.m. Thursday, with cleanup efforts continuing afterward.
The affected discharge entered a tributary flowing into Bynum Run about 800 feet upstream from East Ring Factory Road. Health officials extended the warning to all downstream locations along Bynum Run, making this more than a contained neighborhood nuisance for people who walk, fish or otherwise use the stream.
Health Officials Warn Against Contact With Bynum Run
Harford County’s Division of Water and Sewer is responsible for operating and maintaining the public sewer system, which serves more than 130,000 county residents, according to the Harford County government. The department’s crews handled the repair, while health officials focused on limiting exposure in the affected waterways.
Officials advised people to avoid physical contact with the tributary and downstream sections of Bynum Run for the next week. “Any contact with natural bodies of water contains some element of risk,” the Health Department said in comments reported by FOX45 News, noting that the level of risk can change with water flow, weather and other conditions.
Bynum Run is monitored by the U.S. Geological Survey at a stream gauge east of Bel Air, underscoring the waterway’s role in tracking local conditions. Residents with questions about the overflow or cleanup can contact the Harford County Department of Public Works, Division of Water and Sewer, at 410-638-3300.
