SWITCH ERROR LEADS TO SEWER OVERFLOW IN CARY

CARY , NC – A switch error at the Town of Cary ’s I-40 Pump Station off Woodfield Drive resulted in a 1,559-gallon spill on Wednesday, July 18 at 4:40 p.m.    The untreated waste reached an unnamed tributary of Crabtree Creek; no fish-kill was observed.  Town crews promptly responded and pumped the waste back to a manhole.  Also, lime was applied to all affected areas; the area was not flushed because Tuesday’s rain and resulting high water levels diluted the waste.

Town staff was installing an electrical safety monitor in the station when one of the switches used to activate the station’s control system was inadvertently not returned to its normal position.  This problem has since been resolved and the station is operating normally.

The Clean Water Act requires a news release to be 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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