Sep 20, 2013 2 min read

A murky river of blue paint spilled into Millers Run Wednesday after a Cecil Township municipal worker repainting handicap parking spaces in Cecil Park accidently knocked over a “clean-out bucket” into a drain that led to the stream.

Township Manager Don Gennuso said the state Department of Environmental Protection was contacted after the incident and local officials are reviewing the worker’s actions and response to the spill.

Gennuso said the blue paint that reached the stream was a “diluted amount” when it spilled from the bucket and into the drain. He added the worker’s effort to flush water into the drain and the creek is not standard policy.

“We’re reviewing internal policies and procedures to ensure this doesn’t happen again,” Gennuso said.

DEP spokesman Jon Poister said his department had started an “inquiry” into the incident, but was not overly concerned about the spill. He said the stream is now running clear and there does not appear to be any fish killed or other environmental damage.

“This is not serious and it’s not something that was done intentionally,” Poister said.

Cecil Township officials did not identify the worker involved in the spill or whether that person might face any disciplinary action.

“The township looked at it as a very minor event and it did dissipate relatively quickly,” Poister said.

“They knew what the problem was and dealt with it internally.”