Wastewater Treatment Plant Explosion Sends Raw Sewage in Kankakee River

By Chuck Sudo in News on Dec 28, 2010 4:12PM

A small section of the Kankakee River was transformed into its own Gowanus Canal yesterday when an explosion at a wastewater treatment plant send thousands of gallons of raw sewage and sludge into the river.

Environmental Protection Agency officials believe the spill is contained within a half-mile of the explosion. Drinking water has not been affected and, since the river tends to ice over in winter, the only EPA concerns are related to wildlife, so far.

The explosion happened around 9 a.m. yesterday and methane was involved. Sewage and wastewater was flowing out of one million-gallon container, and the explosion from the rupture was strong enough to shake nearby homes.