Wells Run Cleanup May Continue

The water in Wells Run trickled over rocks calmly Tuesday afternoon, and all seemed rather normal even though the creek was contaminated with heating oil only a week ago.

Heating oil from a fuel tank under Macy's in the Mall at Prince Georges leaked into the tributary that runs between Hyattsville, University Park and Riverdale Park.

Although the clean-up crew from MARCOR Environmental, the private contractors hired by the mall to clean up the spill, is done with its work, University Park Mayor John Tabori said until the source is sealed, more work might need to be done.

"We don't know how long it'll take," Tabori said, "because we don't know if they have fixed the leak."

He said the Maryland Department of the Environment is aware of the situation.

MDE spokesman Jay Apperson did not respond in enough time for this story.

University Park resident Tom Stickles, and chairman of the Wells Run Committee, said the clean up was still going on late last week.

"Now there is some mud washed into the creek as well," Stickles said.

He said the construction on Adelphi Road left some mud and debris on the ground that washed into the creek during the rainstorms.

Tabori said Wells Run has been contaminated before.

The first time, a WSSC sewer pipe broke and increased the bacteria level of the creek. It took the town six months to a year to figure out the source of the problem,. But once it was identified, WSSC quickly responded and fixed the pipe.

Another time, while the University Town Center was under construction, contractors washed out cement trucks into the storm water management system. It changed the pH level of the creek, potentially affecting aquatic life.

The memorandum of understanding is supposed to help all three towns share responsibility of the creek, Tabori said.

Although he said it is unclear when the creek will be in the clear for sure, he has been working with the state and the mall to make sure the situation is resolved soon.