WILMINGTON -- Speed up sewer repairs or face fines. That's the message the state division of water quality is sending to the city of Wilmington. The division of water quality sent a letter to City Manager Sterling Cheatham about moving more quickly to reduce flows through the northeast interceptor. In the letter, dated last Friday, the state division of water quality criticized the city's response to the increasing flow of wastewater through the Northeast Interceptor. The letter goes on to say the state has not received proof of a partnership between city and county leaders. "It has been disappointing," the letter states, "that no formal submittal has yet been received, nor have any of the proposed measures, including flow diversion and control of growth, been implemented." "We were actually waiting on New Hanover County to agree on the same list of options the City voted on a few weeks ago. That happened this past Monday. So we have already met with the state to move this process forward," says Wilmington spokesperson Malissa Talbert. Talbert says City and County leaders have agreed on a ten-step plan to reduce the wastewater flow. That plan includes diverting flow through other pipelines, sealing manhole covers to reduce rainwater leakage, and limiting wastewater from commercial sources.