BLASTING LEADS TO SEWER OVERFLOW IN CARY

CARY , NC – A private contractor undertaking permitted blasting struck a 24-inch sewer transmission line and gravity line in northwestern Cary off Allforth Place , which led to a 35,900-gallon sewer spill around 1 p.m. on Monday, October 2, 2006 .  The majority of the waste made its way into an existing retention pond, and a small portion of the waste also reached Amberly Lake.  No fish kill has been observed.   

The private contractor has completed temporary repairs to the collection system; permanent repairs should be complete by the end of the day.  The retention pond has been pumped out, and the waste has been returned to the sewer system.

The Clean Water Act requires public notice in the form of a news release issued by public works operators within 48 hours of the detection of a wastewater overflow of 1,000 gallons or greater that also reaches surface waters.  Paid advertisements are also necessary for spills in excess of 14,999 gallons.

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