CFPUA reports River Road wastewater spill

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The Cape Fear Public Utility Authority (CFPUA) says about 27,000 gallons of untreated wastewater spilled Thursday after a contractor hit a line.

According to a news release, the sanitary sewer overflow happened just before 10 a.m. Thursday near River Road south of Shipyard Blvd. when a contractor hit a sewer line connected to the River Road Force Main. The contractor, hired by CFPUA, is conducting demolition work on an abandoned pump station in the area. During the demolition, falling debris hit the line’s connection to the force main, causing the overflow.

CFPUA says its crews immediately mobilized using the emergency action plan in place for this type of work. Four primary pumping stations were shut down to contain the amount of the overflow and multiple vacuum trucks were used to minimize the impact on the environment. CFPUA crews ended the overflow at approximately 1 p.m. and finished the main repair before nightfall.

CFPUA says the untreated wastewater entered a storm drain catch basin inside the State Port of Wilmington that serves as a tributary to the Cape Fear River.

NC Department of Water Quality representatives were immediately on scene and directed water testing both up and down stream. The results of those samples will be available late this afternoon. CFPUA says because “a relatively low amount” of wastewater entered a high-volume waterway, the NC Department of Water Quality is not requiring additional sampling today.