EXCESSIVE RAINS LEAD TO ONGOING SEWER OVERFLOW AT CARY PUMP STATION

CARY , NC – The Town of Cary is working to stop an ongoing sewer spill that began around 7:30 p.m. on Friday, June 23 at the Swift Creek Regional Pump Station, 7800 Holly Springs Road .  Officials estimate that untreated sewage of about 200,000 gallons per hour is making its way into Swift Creek.  No fish kill has been observed.

Rains from Friday’s severe thunderstorms caused a soil embankment to collapse near the pump station and dislodge a pipe critical to the station’s operations.  In order to repair the pipe, crews had to shut down the pump station, at which point the sewage normally moving through the station began going into Swift Creek.  Once the valve is repaired, crews will be able to restart the pump station, and the ongoing spill will end.  Officials hope to have the repairs completed before noon today.

“We have been working around the clock to make this repair,” said the Town’s Utilities Director Rob Bonné.  “Fortunately, Swift Creek remains swollen from the recent heavy rains, which is helping to mitigate the spill’s impacts.”

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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