NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 16, 2000

GREASE AND CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS
LIKELY CAUSES OF CARY SEWAGE SPILL

CARY, NC – Grease and construction debris combined to cause a sanitary sewage spill near the construction site of Phase I of Preston Reserve, 900 Berwick Valley Lane in Cary. Untreated waste escaped from a manhole and reached Coles Branch Creek and Wake County Erosion Control Pond #18. This pond has been closed to the public while cleanup efforts continue. It’s possible that some of the waste also reached an unnamed tributary going to Lake Crabtree; no fish-kill has been observed. Repair crews have unplugged the clogged line, installed a temporary dam to keep the waste from traveling downstream, limed and flushed the affected area, and pumped the waste back into the municipal system.

Town of Cary Public Works crews were made aware of and responded to the problem around 10:00 AM, March 14^th. Preliminary estimates place the overflow at about 25,000 gallons; however, this number could change as the Town conducts flow monitoring testing and continues its investigation into the problem over the next few days.

The Clean Water Act adopted this summer by the State Legislature requires a news release be issued by public works operators whenever a wastewater spill of 1,000 gallons or greater reaches surface waters. Paid advertisements are also necessary for spills in excess of 14,999 gallons. This is the fourth such spill Cary has had this calendar year.

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