I only thought this sort of thing happened in New York City in 1984. A Sussex sewage treatment plant is experiencing both the best and the worst of 1984 cinema as sewer authorities have called in parapsychologists to investigate a "zombie-like humanoid figure" that follows plant workers around the dank tunnels of the Southern Waters' Eastbourne treatment works. I imagine the tunnels of a sewage treatment plant are scary enough without creepy figures lurking in the shadows and the sound of anonymous laughter and muffled conversations coming through the walls. [shudder] gives me goose bumps just thinking about it.

And now the Spills of the Week (sorry for the delay):

Long Island Sounds Gross: Human error caused a 120,000-gallon sewage spill at the Mattabassett District sewer plant the night of Feb. 1, resulting in raw sewage flowing into local wetlands, the Connecticut River and Long Island Sound. The spill occurred when the shift supervisor inadvertently closed a gate, said Brian Armet, the plant's executive director. The closed gate caused sewage to overflow onto the plant's grounds and parking lot.
- February 8, 2008: The Hartford Courant - Hartford, CT

Nuunan!!: Heavy rains are being blamed for the release of more than 2,000 gallons of wastewater in Nuuanu, Hawaii. State health officials say heavy rains overwhelmed a wastewater collection system Wednesday night. An estimated 2,300 gallons shot out of a manhole behind a house on Pali Highway. Of that, about 1,600 gallons seeped into the ground, while the other 700 gallons poured into Waolani Stream, which feeds Nuuanu Stream. Health officials advised people to stay out of Nuuanu Stream until water quality tests come back normal.
- February 8, 2008: KHNL NBC 8 - Honolulu, HI

No Sewage Swimming: The Wicomico County Environmental Health Department has banned fishing, swimming and other activities on a portion of the Wicomico River because of a sewage leak. Officials say the leak occurred Thursday night in an underground processing line at the city's wastewater plant and sent more than 173,000 gallons of partially treated sewage into a storm drain that feeds the river. The portion of the river affected by the health advisory extends from City Park to Upper Ferry.
- February 9, 2008: WJZ News Channel 13 - Baltimore, MD

Fool Me Twice...Uhhh: For the second time this month, a mechanical failure has resulted in sewage spilling into a township lake. Marc Middlestadt, who is the licensed operator for Sierra Consultants, said Friday that 49,000 gallons of sewage spilled into Big Crooked Lake. The spill began Jan. 30 and was discovered Thursday. Middlestadt said a float device at a pump station at 10940 Crooked Lake Drive was not operating properly.
- February 9, 2008: The Grand Rapids Press - Grand Rapids, MI

That's not Buttermilk in the Creek: A broken sewer line in Goldfield led to a sewage bypass to Buttermilk Creek early Monday morning. The City of Goldfield, located in Wright County, estimates the sewage began discharging around midnight and stopped around 8:00 a.m. and dumped an unknown amount into Buttermilk Creek, which flows into the Boone River. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources required the city to sample water in the Boone River for ammonia, bacteria and oxygen levels.
- February 11, 2008: The Des Moines Register - Des Moines, IA

Grease Again: A sewage spill in Sandy Springs sent 4,600 gallons of untreated waste into a tributary of Nancy Creek Friday. The manhole overflow was reported in the Windsor Gate Court neighborhood, just north of Atlanta. Fulton County workers responded. Fulton County Public Works attributed the overflow to an accumulation of debris and grease in the sewer lines. Workers cleaned the manhole and applied lime and enzyme to the area surrounding the spill.
- February 11, 2008: Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Atlanta, GA

9,000 Gallons per Hour: Raw sewage spilled into Arcade Creek in Sacramento County on Wednesday morning. The spill occurred when an 18-inch pipe broke near the creek close to Garfield Avenue. The broken line was gushing out an estimated 9,000 gallons of sewage per hour. Signs have been posted along the creek, telling people to stay away, sewage is not healthy.
- February 13, 2008: KCRA News 3 - Sacramento, CA

A Twofer: The Mobile Area Water and Sewer System (MAWSS) experienced two sanitary sewer overflows Monday. One occurred at 915 Kooiman Rd. when approximately 36,000 gallons of wastewater overflowed from a main line into a storm drain as a result of a blockage. MAWSS crews were able to contain and recover all but approximately 1,000 gallons, which entered Three Mile Creek. The second overflow occurred at 1105 Springhill Ave. when approximately 5,000 gallons overflowed into Mobile River as the result of a grease blockage.
- February 13, 2008: My FOX 10 - Mobile, AL