2 million gallons of sewage spill into Houston waters after storms

HOUSTON -- Storms pummeled the Houston area over the Halloween weekend, leaving behind more than just soaked trick-or-treaters.

Raw sewage has begun collecting on downtown Houston streets alongside the Buffalo Bayou, reports CBS affiliate KHOU.

More than two millions gallons of sewage are believed to have spilled into the city's bayous and waterways following the weekend deluge, which was estimated at more than 10 inches of rain.

"It's just a horrible stench and I've had to wade through it constantly walking through here," said Steve Sherlund, who lives along the Buffalo Bayou.

There are four sites around Houston where the sewage spilled out, which means five of the city's bayous were likely affected.

"There's only so much you can with the bayou, you can't really dress it up to make it something it's not," said John Lindsey. "It's an open irrigation ditch, basically an open sewer."

The city has been touting its investments in improving the bayous, and getting people to use them for recreation. Locals say there is still a lot of work to be done.

"They have TV specials to try to get people out to the bayou," said Sherlund. "Hopefully it's all flushed out pretty quick or taken out into the ocean."