RALEIGH — For the second time in a week, sewage spilled from a line on Glenwood Avenue near Lynn Road, and nearly 637,000 gallons reached a nearby creek, city officials said Tuesday.

The overflow, which occurred Sunday, appeared to be the result of pipe failure from corrosion and deterioration, utility officials said.

With help from a utility contractor, the city contained the spill by 10 p.m., within two hours of responding to the incident.

“This was a fairly short segment of pipe, between two newer pieces of pipe, that didn’t get replaced for whatever reason,” said John Carman, the city’s public utilities director. “Once we replace this, everything (in the area) should be new.”

The sewage reached Turkey Creek, which passes under Lynn Road and Glenwood Avenue on its way to Crabtree Creek in Umstead State Park.

Last week, a similar spill resulted in 89,700 gallons of sewage reaching Turkey Creek during an overflow that took most of a day to contain.

The city announced the latest spill late Tuesday afternoon. State law requires the owner of a wastewater system to issue a news release reporting spills of 1,000 gallons or more that reach streams, rivers or lakes within 48 hours.

City officials said they are working to modernize the utility department’s system for tracking trouble spots. They also have a pipe replacement program to reduce this type of overflow.

Although human error was not to blame, the city runs an education and enforcement program to prevent grease and other improper materials from being poured into drains. Only water, human waste and toilet paper are to be discharged into the sewer system.

Garfield: 919-836-4952