CFPUA: 23,000 gallons of treated sewage spills Monday

WILMINGTON, NC (NEWS RELEASE FROM CFPUA) – The Cape Fear Public Utility Authority responded to and remedied a treated effluent bypass which occurred on January 3rd at the Northside Wastewater Treatment Plant. The bypass occurred from at approximately 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. A leak from a joint fitting on the effluent force main allowed treated plant effluent, normally routed to the Cape Fear River, to make its way into a ditch running along the westerly boundary of the NSWWTP. This ditch ultimately discharges into the Northeast Cape Fear River.

The bypass was contained at 2:00 PM by portable pumping into a storage basin which was then pumped back into the plant for reprocessing. Total estimated volume of treated effluent discharged to surface waters over this period was 23,400 gallons. The defective section of piping was removed/repaired/replaced without interruption to influent wastewater flow. This spill has been cleaned up and reported to the N.C. Division of Water Quality.

This news release was issued on January 5, 2011 in compliance with North Carolina General Statute 143-215.1C (a portion of the Clean Water Act of 1999). For further information, contact the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority at 910-332-6704.