State investigates 1 million gallon sewage spill in Rutland

RUTLAND – The state is investigating a nearly 1 million gallon overflow of untreated sewage into East and Otter creeks earlier this month in Rutland City, according city Public Works Commissioner Jeffrey Wennberg.

The state could fine the municipality for the spill.

The treatment plant worker who was on duty at the time has been disciplined.

“He basically didn’t respond in a manner that a trained and licensed operator should have responded to the circumstances that were happening at the time,” Wennberg said Saturday, Aug. 26. “He acknowledged the error, he apologized. … He didn’t make any excuses.”

A 50 cent “lousy fuse” blew at the River Street pump station, kicking off a series of events that led to the spill that began in the early morning hours of Aug. 5 and continued for about nine hours before it was detected and stopped, Wennberg said.

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