In an effort to avoid sewage back up in residents' basements, Frederick County officials have said sewage has been diverted into area waterways after sewage collection systems have been overwhelmed by the record-setting rainfall of the past week.
The Frederick County Health Department is asking residents to avoid waterways and other flooded areas for the next one to two weeks. Immersing yourself in these waters could expose people to harmful bacteria. If residents come into contact with such water, they should wash thoroughly with soap and warm. Eating fish from such waters may be OK if it has been cleaned, scaled and cooked.
Though boating tends to provide less water contact, boating in flooded streams is not advised as water levels and currents can be unpredictable, and flood debris and downed trees create hazards.
The health department specifically said to avoid the following waterways:
- Little Tuscarora Creek and Tuscarora Creek in the neighborhoods of Clover Hill III, Cloverdale, Clover Ridge, Mill Island, Willow Brook, Tuscarora Knolls, Wormans Mill, and Waterside
- Monocacy River south of the Carroll Creek confluence, and the Flat Run and Thomas Creek in Emmitsburg
