Overflow at Surf City wastewater treatment facility results in spill

SURF CITY, NC (WWAY) — Surf City officials are investigating after a wastewater treatment facility overflow resulted in an estimated 70,000-gallon spill of untreated wastewater earlier this week.

The overflow occurred at the Town of Surf City Wastewater Treatment Facility. According to town officials, the incident began around 5 p.m. on May 13 and was discovered by staff at approximately 6 a.m. on May 14.

Officials said most of the wastewater was contained within the treatment facility grounds. At least 14,000 gallons were recovered and returned to the treatment process.

An estimated 5,000 gallons of untreated wastewater reached an unnamed tributary of Cypress Branch Creek, though officials noted the discharge remained contained to the wastewater treatment facility property.

The town said the overflow was caused by a faulty programmable logic controller, or PLC, within the facility’s main computer system. Staff cleared the fault, reset the system, and restored normal operations shortly after the issue was discovered.

No additional impacts or public safety concerns have been announced at this time.