In the Finnish town of Nokia, thousands of people have fallen ill due to accidental contamination of their water source. According to AFP World News, a sewage treatment plant worker mistakenly opened a valve allowing treated sewage to flow into the town's water supply. Thousands of citizens have complained of diarrhea and vomiting. The situation seems to be under control, but not after exposing the entire town to potentially serious illness. The water had been treated and was supposed to be released into a nearby river. This incident and the 1193 Milwaukee Crypto outbreak are perfect example of just how harmful untreated sewage. Hopefully, public health scares like these lead to better understanding on why raw and partially treated sewage in our water sources is probably not a good idea!

And now the spills of the week!!

(Larger Image After the Jump)Each year, an estimated several billion gallons of untreated sewage spills into the environment. The primary culprits of sewage spills (aka. sanitary sewer overflows) are antiquated sewage collection systems, excessive rainfall, and human error. From the coast of Maine to San Diego Bay, untreated sewage overflows cause beach closures and endanger human health and the environment.

Back in April a sewage spill in Carlsbad, CA set a new record for the largest sewage spill in state history at 7.3 million gallons of sewage into Buena Vista Lagoon. That was the crime, here's the punishment. The San Diego Regional Water Control Board is fining the cities of Carlsbad and Vista $1.1 million for the spill.