South Jersey residents warned to avoid Big Timber Creek until sewage spill dissipates

Officials in Camden County are warning residents to avoid swimming, fishing, or drinking water in Big Timber Creek until about 6 p.m. Monday, when the effects of a weekend sewage spill are expected to have worn off.

A power outage at a Camden County Municipal Utility Authority pump station Sunday afternoon caused wastewater to spill into Big Timber Creek for about 90 minutes.

County officials, as well as state officials with the Departments of Health and Environmental Protection are monitoring water quality in the creek and its tributaries.

Camden County spokesman Dan Keashen said the effects of the spill should last only 24 hours, as the organic material dissipates and becomes diluted in the waterways.

“We’re hoping that the water quality of the creek will rebound rather quickly with the rain that’s forecasted tonight and the overall flow of the waterway,” he said.

No residential drinking water was affected, Keashen said.

He added that the spill may result in a small fish die-off.