Sewage Overflow Quickly Reported Under Proposed Bill

For many residents of New Milford, river flooding is a very serious issue and one that hits far too close to home, literally. Flooding alone can cause serious damage to a resident’s yard, property and home. The last thing on some people's mind is the possibility of sewage remnants being left behind when the water recedes.

According to an nj.com report, New Jersey State Senate passed a bill Thursday that would require that the public be told when and where outdated sewage systems overflow and pour their contents into New Jersey’s waterways.

The bill, approved 34-4, operators would report sewage spills to the Department of Environmental Protection within an hour. The Department of Environment would then notify the public, within 12 hours, of the spill by posting details on their website.

The bill will now be placed in front of Gov. Chris Christie who must also pass the bill for it to go into effect.

It's not unusual for the field behind New Milford High School to flood and the water sometimes recedes without causing any physical damage. It begs the question, when the water recedes, does it leave anything behind? Let us know what you think in the comments section below. 

The video above, courtesy of New Milford's own Rick Mide, shows just how much the river can leave behind after a flood. 

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