ONLY ON 3: Visitor finds sewage flowing into ocean at Kure Beach

KURE BEACH, NC (WWAY) — Thousands of people traveled to the Cape Fear region for Labor Day weekend, but just imagine going to the beach and smelling sewage.

That’s what one family says happened while they were visiting Pleasure Island

Bob Van Wormer and his family are in town visiting from Cary. They were spending a day on the beach in Kure Beach when they discovered a stinky situation.

“Disgusting,” Van Wormer said. “As soon as we figured out what was going on, we just packed up and left.”

It started out as a normal beach day until they saw something unusual.

“We were going back to get some refreshments and we noticed the sewer was overflowing into the street,” Van Wormer said.

He says they could smell something in the air.

“Sure enough you could see toilet paper and feces flowing directly from the sewer into the ocean where we were swimming,” Van Wormer said.

He said they left immediately after.

“I don’t know the science behind it, other than it being very disgusting, but clearly there is a lot of bacteria there,” Van Wormer said. “I suppose if one had cuts or were to ingest it, who knows what would happen.”

There is a sign that states that the area is a storm water drainage area and that swimming is not recommended within 200 feet of this sign during active discharge, but Van Wormer says storm water doesn’t contain raw sewage.

“I think what really outraged me the most was that I was swimming in it and no one is here alerting people to the fact that bacteria is here,” Van Wormer said.

We have reached out to the Kure Beach Town Manager and the Public Works department for a comment. We are still waiting to hear back.