6,000 gallons of sewage leaked from a sewer main in Lexington the night of June 16, per an estimate released by the town.

The reported leak took place on a 24-inch force main near 179 J. Rufus Rd., the town says in a news release. That address is located a little more than a quarter mile from Mineral Springs Road in the Oak Grove area of Lexington.

The release states that the sewage entered a tributary in the Congaree Basin.

“The Town was notified of the issue on Thursday, June 16, 2022 at 9:30 p.m. and crews were able to stop the leak at 11 p.m,” the release says. “The issue was caused by a pipe defect. ... Repairs have since been completed.”

Laurin Barnes, communications manager for the town, told the Chronicle that steps have been taken to clean up the spill.

“Crews lined the area (for odor control and disinfectant) and took samples in the two ponds downstream to ensure that water is not contaminated,” she said.

Strong thunderstorms made their way through Lexington County the night of June 16, triggering flash flood warnings, but Barnes said the storms didn’t contribute to the issue.

She said there have not been any other recent issues with the section of the sewer line where the leak took place, and that the section is 27 years old.