SEATTLE – The New Holly neighborhood in south Seattle is the latest culprit polluting Lake Washington.
The discovery was made after crews found a broken sewer pipe near Pritchard Beach along the lake. They followed the line to New Holly, where they discovered another set of problems.
"There was actually a sewer in the drainage line and that should not happen," said Ingrid Goodwin, Seattle Public Utilities.
Twenty-two wastewater lines that should have been connected to the sewage system instead were connected to the stormwater drain system that flows directly into the lake.
"It's scary 'cause I don't know what's going on here," says New Holly resident Opal Woods. She remembers the last big problem – another mistake that put lead in the drinking water.
"Then they got the sewage problem and the other problems, contaminated water problem. What they trying to kill us because we low income?" said Woods.
The Seattle Housing Authority says it has fixed the lead problem and it's trying to find the source of the sewer issues. Starting Tuesday, smoke machines will be placed on top of the drain, which will send smoke through the system. That smoke should come out through the gutters. If it makes its way to silver sewer vents, there's a problem. Results should be back next week.
"We will find issues. It's just where they are and where do we go from there once we find them," said Adam Bailey, Environmental Compliance Inspector.
For now, all wastewater from New Holly is getting funneled through a temporary pipe to get it to the sewage treatment plant.
