Questions remain for RDU after million-gallon sewage spill during runway work

Raleigh water crews responded to a sewage spill near the Brier Creek area that caused more than 1.1 million gallons of waste to be released.

The city said the spill was a result of a temporary pipe failure during a runway expansion project at Raleigh-Durham International Airport. The city said the spill, which totaled approximately 1,143,800 gallons, happened on Tuesday around 8:30 a.m.

Most of the spill was contained, but part of the waste reached a nearby creek after wastewater was mistakenly discharged into a storm drain on Glenwood Avenue by contractors, according to the city. The city said notices of violation could follow.

Raleigh Water teams were seen on Wednesday afternoon near the intersection of Lynn Road and Glenwood Avenue to support the cleanup effort. The Turkey Creek waterway was impacted by the spill.

"Bacteria contamination is a real concern for human health," said Neuse Riverkeeper Samantha Krop. "Polluted water that has sewage in it can carry thousands of waterborne illnesses, including things like cholera, typhoid fever, dysentery, and infectious hepatitis."

“People shouldn't be coming into contact with this creek, and we don't yet know the extent of contamination,” Krop said.

WRAL News reached out to the Department of Environmental Quality for more details on Wednesday. On Thursday morning, it said staff with its Division of Water Resources visited the site to assess the spill and clean-up response.

DWR staff believe the spill was originally caused by a failure in a pipe installed to bypass a pump station and force main for a construction project at the airport.

The department said the city reported the spill was initially contained in an empty stormwater basin and that the sewage would be pumped and hauled from the site. However, it said the sewage was incorrectly disposed into a manhole that led to the stormwater system, which caused the untreated wastewater to flow into a tributary to Turkey Creek. The sewage flowed about 1.5 miles downstream where the creek meets Ebenezer Church Road.

"An estimated volume of the amount of sewage reaching surface waters was not available from the city on Wednesday," the department said.

Once it reviews the incident reports, the department said it will work to figure out the regulatory response -- including possible enforcement actions. The department said water resources staff have requested sampling information in follow-up reports.

The city said the mess will likely take days to completely clean up.

The Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority said in an email that it is “coordinating with the City of Raleigh” and will “take all necessary environmental precautions as the construction project moves forward.”

However, airport officials did not answer WRAL’s questions about the contractor involved, the vetting process for contractors handling infrastructure work, oversight during the cleanup process or whether the airport is reviewing safeguards following the spill.

Officials advised the public to avoid the surrounding stretch of Glenwood Avenue on Wednesday afternoon.

The city said there was no vegetative damage from the spill or significant fish death. 

This is a developing story.