Resident Says Waste Leaks Into Creek

DICKSON, Tenn. -- Following some recent heavy rain, something pouring from under manholes in Dickson County has residents concerned.

Video: Man Claims Waste Leaking Into Creek

Steve Stinson calls the East Piney Creek that runs right through his brother’s front yard his little peace of serenity.

"My brother, he catches fish and feeds the ducks," he said.

But Stinson said all it takes is a big rain to cause sewer and storm water to erupt out of the sewer system and into the creek.

His brother saw an overflow happen about two weeks ago, and the remnants of that overflow are still visible.

"And that's all paper waste. There's no telling what all's in that stuff," said Stinson.

Residents who live near the creek said they are worried about the sewage but are more worried about what the overflows bring into the water that they can’t see.

"Are you afraid someone will get sick?" asked reporter Sara Dorsey.

"I'm sure they will, that’s what causes all kind of contamination," Stinson said.

Dickson County Water Authority Director Dr. Sandra Dudley said that while it does pump drinking water from the Piney River, residents can rest assured that the plant filters out any contaminants.

"We want to be a good neighbor and keep the streams as clean as possible," she said.

She said crews reported the spill to the state and cleaned the area. But she said the problem is an aging infrastructure.

"A lot of the sewer in that area is 50, 60 years old," she said.

Stinson said he is concerned that 50 or 60 years of leaks might make the creek too dangerous to deal with.

"Just imagine what’s in this creek and in the ground and stuff, and it's supposed to be in that pipeline," he said.

The Water Authority said it’s taking precautionary steps prior to storms to try and hold the additional water and that it always follows all the state mandatory steps after an overflow.

Neighbors said the problem keeps bubbling up.

According to representatives, the Water Authority is in the middle of a multimillion dollar sewer rehab program that it hopes will help alleviate the current stresses on the system