Longterm problem not expected from spill

Friday, Feb. 27, 2004 | 9:50 a.m.

Clark County Water Reclamation District officials said today they do not believe there will be any longterm environmental problems resulting from a 2-million-gallon sewage spill near the Strip this week.

"We are OK, as bad as the situation was," said Marty Flynn, spokesman for the reclamation district, regarding Tuesday's collapse of a 24-inch sewer line behind Treasure Island.

"The first crews on scene had disinfectant with them and were able to treat the sewage as soon as they brought the water out of the manhole to relieve the pressure."

Throughout the operation, 750 pounds of disinfectant were used as the tainted water traversed storm drains, Flynn said.

Two million gallons is enough to twice fill the deep pool at Georgia Tech that was built for the 1996 Olympic Games at Atlanta, Flynn said.

Flynn said samplings of the treated sewage were taken by the Clark County Flood Control District as it traveled through the flood channels and washes, and additional samplings were taken by the Southern Nevada Water Authority as the sewage went into Lake Mead.

"The disinfectant did its job," Flynn said of the preliminary findings, noting there should be no problems with drinking water. "It was the appropriate high level (of disinfectant) for the situation."

Preliminary findings also are that the old line, made of unlined concrete, collapsed from corrosion. The ruined section of 24-inch line will be replaced with a 30-inch section of thick, flexible PVC pipe, Flynn said.

Also other sections of the line upstream and downstream from the break will be checked to determine if they need to be replaced, Flynn said.

The operation, which will begin as soon as the materials arrive at the site, is expected to take four or five days next week, weather permitting, Flynn said.

Vegas Plaza Drive at Industrial Road will be closed next week. Also in the later stages of the repair operation, one or two lanes of eastbound Spring Mountain Road will be closed, Flynn said.

"It is traffic coming off the freeway to Strip to The Mirage and Treasure Island, so there is a concern," Flynn said of possible traffic delays in the area.