Pinal County Public Health and Environmental Health are continuing to work with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) to minimize any public health threat associated with a recent sanitary sewer overflow that resulted in the discharge of raw, untreated wastewater into the Queen Creek Wash. The area is adjacent to the Pecan Ranch subdivision.
Standing water in the wash between Gantzel and Kenworthy Roads continues to pose a potential health risk to residents. The most recent testing performed on water sampled from the Queen Creek Wash in the affected area identified a decrease in fecal contamination. However, elevated levels of bacteria associated with sewage in the water may still pose a threat to individual’s health.
“You actually need to have direct physical contact with the contaminated water to get sick. It poses no health risk to those living in the area as long as they stay away from the water in the affected area,” said Tom Schryer, Director of Pinal County Public Health. “There is no public health threat from residual odors.”
Drinking or swimming in the water could expose individuals to organisms such as E. coli, Salmonella, Hepatitis A, or others that could cause illness. Pinal County officials recommend staying away from water in areas that have been posted.
The area’s tap water has not been affected and is safe for drinking or bathing. ADEQ is currently investigating the situation and will continue testing the standing water in the Queen Creek Wash to ensure that local residents are aware of any potential risks.
Concerned individuals are invited to contact Pinal County Environmental Health at (520) 866-6330 or Pinal County Public Health at (520) 866-7347 with questions.
NOTE: The Pecan Creek neighborhood is in an unincorporated area of Pinal County (Johnson Ranch area). That is the area affected, not the town of Queen Creek. The creek, wash and town just happen to share the name, "Queen Creek."