Thousands of fish killed by waste leak near Brevard

PISGAH FOREST, N.C. (AP) – Authorities say thousands of fish died when a breach in a sewer line at a former paper mill near Brevard caused waste to drain into the Davidson River.

The Asheville Citizen-Times reported Friday the liquid came from the Ecusta Mill, where engineers tried to discharge waste into a treatment basin. Thousands of minnows, suckers and trout died when the sewer breach sent the waste into the river instead.

An official with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said the spill doesn’t pose any danger to public water supplies.

The 527 acres of the former plant site is being cleaned and redeveloped by Davidson River Village, which hopes to create space for retail, residential and other uses.

The spill was stopped Wednesday afternoon when the liquid was contained in drainage ditches and pumped into the treatment basin.

Information from: The Asheville Citizen-Times,
http://www.citizen-times.com

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