A 25,000-gallon sewage spill was linked to a buildup of grease in a service line in Glen Burnie, said Anne Arundel County Department of Public Works spokeswoman Pam Jordan. “The spill is a nasty reminder that people need to dispose of their grease properly,” she said.

Initially, the Department of Public Works announced earlier this week that approximately 10,000 gallons of sewage overflowed in the vicinity of Rippling Estates housing development. After cleaning and treating the site with lime, workers determined that 25,000 gallons was more accurate, Jordan said.

The county health department posted signs that advised residents to avoid the area and not to swim in nearby Marley Creek. “Ingestion or contact with wastewater can cause gastrointestinal problems, in some cases serious,” said Elin Jones, a health department spokeswoman. “Signs can stay up from three days to weeks depending on the level of contamination.”

“It was a significant spill, and I am not blaming our consumers, but people need to remember not to pour grease down their drains,” Jordan said