SUNAPEE — Sewage spilled into Lake Sunapee from a private home near Jobs Creek on Wednesday, prompting the town to issue a public advisory.
People should avoid swimming, fishing or boating in the area, and keep all pets and livestock away from it as well “until further notice,” the town wrote.
Town departments, along with the homeowner and a private cleanup company, “are taking immediate steps to clean up the area and implement all available mitigation measures,” the statement said.
The fire department placed booms in the area of the lake where the spill occurred.
Town Manager Shannon Martinez did return a call requesting comment about the status of the clean up before deadline on Thursday.
“This event serves as a critical reminder that managing waste properly is one of our
most important shared responsibilities as stewards of Lake Sunapee,” Elizabeth Harper, executive director of the Lake Sunapee Protective Association, wrote in a news release.
“When waste management systems fail, they can release nutrients and bacteria into lakes and streams, contributing to cyanobacteria blooms and threatening the health of people,
pets, wildlife, and the lake ecosystem.”
The nonprofit organization has been a strong advocate for implementing septic ordinances in Sunapee, Springfield, N.H., New London and Newbury, N.H., which require residents who live in the Lake Sunapee Watershed area to regularly pump and inspect their septic systems.