A City Council candidate in Hoboken, NJ is trying to turn "fecal fruit" into a campaign issue. She claims that raw sewage that overflows during flooding is causing undigested tomato seeds to germinate and grow throughout the streets of her fair city. These wild and unsavory tomatoes are overrunning the city and if elected she will put and end to it. Needless to say, her opponent remains silent on the issue.

Now the Spills of the Week:

Slurrieta, California: Grease and other debris blocked a sewer line in Murrieta, CA sending 51,000 gallons of sewage into a nearby dry creek bed. 1,900 gallons of the untreated sewage was cleaned up with the rest going into a creek bed that is a tributary of Murrieta Creek.
- September 27, 2007: The North County Times - Escondido, CA

An Unsightly Yard Ornament: "It was gross, absolutely," said Rebecca Nelson after the second sewage spill occurred in her yard. This time only 5,000 gallons of sewage spilled, as compared with the first time when 12,000 gallons of the messy stuff ended up all over her yard. Sewage overflowed from a manhole located on her property in Fulton County, GA. Sewage from the second incident flowed directly into a local lake. "I'm afraid it's going to keep happening whenever it rains," said Morrie Nelson, Rebecca's husband. The local sewer authority blames the overflows on improper sewer use.
- September 27, 2007: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Atlanta, GA

Gas Valley: A blocked sewer main spilled up to 600 gallons of sewage (third story) in Grass Valley, CA. The spill made its way into Wolf Creek after flowing into a storm drain. A city crew unplugged the blockage and cleaned up the area.
- October 2, 2007: The Union - Grass Valley, CA

Black Scat Creek: The bypasses are happening again in Iowa. This week more than 700,000 gallons of untreated wastewater bypassed in Iowa. Albert city bypassed 200,000 gallons into the Raccoon River, Des Moines primary drinking water source, while Ringstead bypassed 500,000 gallons, some of which may have made it to Black Cat Creek. Emmetsburg also discharged into the Des Moines River, but no amount was published.
- October 2, 2007: The Des Moines Register - Des Moines, IA

Sicker Stained Beach and Pooper Park: It is unclear what caused 15,000 gallons of sewage to overflow in National City, CA. We do know that warning signs will be in place along the shoreline in the areas of Silver Strand State Beach, Pepper Park and Bayside Park until testing deems the area safe for recreational use. Clean up crews were able to stop 9,000 gallons from reaching Streetwater River and San Diego Bay.
- October 4, 2007: The Union-Tribune - San Diego, CA