It also causes the city’s wastewater treatment plant to overflow.
Frederick, Md (KM) It was a busy morning for Frederick Police as the heavy rains came down. Spokeswoman Michelle Bowman says as flooding occurred, officers closed several roads which were underwater. “North Market {Street} was closed from 8th {Street} all the way to Routzhans Way. And as the water receded, then it went around the 10th Street all the way up to Routzahn. And then Schifferstadt {Drive} to Routzahns was the last section to open,” she says.
In addition, a major part of the Golden Mile was also closed due to high water. “We also saw West Patrick Street between Hoke Place and Hill{crest} Street closed as well on Route 40 outside of Petersen’s Carpet area. There was a car that went through the water,” she says.
Along with flooded roadways, Bowman says there were a few water rescues. “We had 11 disabled vehicles. Not all of them were water rescues. Some of them evacuated themselves from their vehicles,” she says.
There were no injuries and all roads have been reopened.
The heavy rains also caused the city’s wastewater treatment plant along Gas House Pike to exceed its capacity, causing the facility to overflow wastewater. “We did have some bypass into Carroll Creek,” says Keith Brown, Assistant Deputy Director of Public Works for the City of Frederick. “We look for that to be remedied in the near future when the flows drop to the wastewater plant.”
The plant met its maximum at around 8 AM, and Brown says the city had to bypass the plant because of all the stormwater inundating the system. “We had over three inches of rain in a short period of time,” Brown says. The city is doing the best it can to mitigate the situation, he says.
On Monday, the wastewater was overflowing in front of the plant, and signs were put up to keep people away.
Brown says this incident is not affecting the city’s drinking water supply. “Water is perfectly safe. It’s two entirely different systems. Our water plants are monitoring the water as it comes into the plant, and making all changes to the doses of chemicals that are used in the water as needed,” he says.
The City has notified the Maryland Department of t he Environment and the County Health Department on this incident.
By Kevin McManus