Sewage spill in Wilmington

Cape Fear Public Utility Authority Operations crews responded to and resolved an SSO of approximately 3,500 gallons that was reported on Saturday afternoon, February 27th at a manhole located on the Ogden Interceptor sewer main between the end of Jamey Court and the intersection of Grathwol Noland Drives in Wilmington. The first notification received of this SSO was at 3:15 PM; responding crews stopped the overflow at 3:45 PM. The spill went into Smith Creek.

The cause of the overflow was a blockage of a pump that was being used to bypass sewage around a failed section of the Ogden Interceptor. The blockage of the pump was caused by a heavy accumulation of fibrous debris, wipes, paper and rags. Customers throughout the system are reminded to refrain from flushing any materials other than toilet paper and human waste. Many products, although labeled as ‘flushable’, do not break down and cause blockages of the sewer system.

CFPUA Environment and Safety Management has performed and will continue water quality monitoring to determine the impact of the spill.

NC DWQ has been notified of the spill and the response.

INFORMATION FROM A NEWS RELEASE SENT TO THE WWAY NEWSCHANNEL 3 NEWSROOM.