Board approves immediate remediation order after sewage leak at 425 E. Main

The Bradford Board of Health voted unanimously to approve an immediate remediation order for 425 East Main Street, directing the property owner to cease business operations, vacate the premises and repair an active sewage leak that city health staff described as raw sewage running onto neighboring properties.

Health Director Brandon Plowman testified that he inspected the site after neighbors reported sewage flowing from behind the Keystone building. "This is raw sewage. It's obviously unsanitary," Plowman said, describing a heavy flow, toilet paper on neighboring driveways and a persistent smell. Plowman identified photographs he took on April 21 and April 22 as documentation of the conditions.

The board's proposed order, as explained to the board by city staff, requires immediate cessation of business operations at the address; immediate vacation of the premises; termination of water service if not already shut off; repair of the defective lateral that caused the backup; professional cleanup and sanitation of the affected areas and adjoining properties; and verification of repairs by a licensed professional and reinspection by the city health inspector. The order set the repair verification deadline at 48 hours and required cleanup and remediation of affected areas within 72 hours, as discussed during the hearing. The order was amended in the meeting to add language allowing the city to perform cleanup and assess costs against the owner, and to pursue fines or other legal action for failure to comply.

Plowman testified that the leak likely began well before the most recent overflow. After speaking with neighbors, "they believe that this may have been going on since fall," he said. He told the board the immediate cause was a clogged lateral that backed up and caused plumbing to detach under the building, so sewage was discharging under the structure rather than flowing to the main sewer. He also said the water service to the property had been terminated that day.

City staff recommended professional remediation rather than homeowner cleanup. "It's not as easy as just throwing a couple of buckets of lime on," Plowman said, explaining that licensed contractors will be needed to remove contaminated soil and sanitize surfaces.

After discussion of deadlines, remedies and enforcement options, a board member moved to approve the order as read and amended. The motion passed on a roll-call vote; the board recorded unanimous support for the order.

The board directed staff to coordinate with the water authority to allow testing once repairs are completed and to have the health inspector reinspect the premises; reinspections and clearance will be directed to Health Director Brandon Plowman. The order remains in effect until the city determines the premises and adjoining properties are in compliance.

Votes at a glance

425 East Main Street (Keystone Real Estate Holdings LLC / Kimberly Glenn): motion to approve immediate remediation order (as read and amended) — approved (unanimous).