MIAMI, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- Several popular boating and swimming areas in South Florida have been closed after a broken pipe sent raw sewage into storm drains, officials say.
The spill was contained Sunday night and the pipeline was repaired by Monday, said Jennifer Messemer, a spokeswoman for the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department, The Miami Herald reported Wednesday.
The Sunday night break in an 18-inch main sent about 250,000 gallons of untreated sewage into Oleta State Park, Dumfoundling Bay, Maule Lake and part of the Intracoastal Waterway.
The beach at Oleta State Park passed the first testing Monday, said Samir Elmir, director of Miami-Dade's Department of Environmental Health and Engineering. Results of the second test were not yet available.
The tests, conducted over two consecutive days, must show contamination in the waters is below levels considered a danger to the public before the facilities can be reopened.
The Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources will test the other sites.
