UPDATE: Marley Creek Sewage Spill Due to Contractor Error

Updated (8:30 a.m.)—Health officials issued an emergency closure of a portion of Marley Creek after an estimated 50,000 gallons of sewage escaped from a nearby pump station on Monday morning.

Wastewater overflow from the Marley Pump Station in Glen Burnie was initially estimated at 50,000 gallons, but The Capital Gazette reported that it could be as much as 200,000.

Anne Arundel County Public Works spokesman Matt Diehl said the spill resulted from an error by a contractor, who was on site upgrading the reliability of the station. 

"The contractor needed to set up a bypass pump system to keep the collection system online, and that system failed," Diehl said. "This isn't an indication of the reliability of our infrastructure. This was an unfortunate contractor error."

The Anne Arundel County Health Department issued the closure, which extends from the creek's headwaters to Chain O Hills Road, across from Sunrise Lane. The area is closed for swimming, waterskiing and any  other direct contact with the water.

As of Tuesday morning, the closure was still in effect. Health officials said it would remain closed "until furtner notice." For more information on the status of the closure, call the Water Quality Line, 410-222-799