Rain causes 7M gallons of sewage overflow to reach Raleigh waterways
More than 7 million gallons of sewage overflowed into local creeks as a result of rain this week in Raleigh.
Posted — UpdatedPublic Utilities Director Robert Massengill said much of the city’s sewer collection system resides alongside streams to take advantage of gravitational flow. When areas adjacent to the streams overflow, which has happened over the course of the past week as several inches of rain fell in the Triangle, portions of the sewer system overflow as well, he said.
“This event was worse than Florence, where we experienced no sanitary sewer overflows, due to the rainfall intensity and duration,” Massengill said in a statement.
Sewer overflows caused by rain have been reported in the following areas since Monday, city officials said:
- 3204 Yonkers Road- An 18-inch sewer bypass line that is part of a sewer rehabilitation project was broken at about 6:45 p.m. Tuesday morning when the area flooded. The overflow occurred for more than nine hours and 4,995,000 gallons of wastewater reached Marsh Creek. The overflow was stopped at about 4 p.m.
- 1712 Mayridge Lane- a 54-inch sewer aerial broke at about 8:45 a.m. Tuesday as a result of the rain and the age of the line, which was slated to be replaced. The overflow occurred for about eight hours and 198,000 gallons of wastewater reached a tributary to Walnut Creek. The overflow was stopped at about 5 p.m.
- 1201 Sunnybrook Road- A sewer manhole began overflowing at about 11:30 p.m. Monday and was stopped at about 10:10 a.m. Tuesday. The overflow occurred for about 10 hours and about 128,000 gallons of wastewater reached Walnut Creek.
- 556 Dacian Road- Three sewer manholes began overflowing at about 11:30 p.m. Monday. The overflow continued for more than 16 hours and was stopped at about 4 p.m. Tuesday. About 291 gallons of wastewater reached Walnut Creek.
- 1551 Rock Quarry Road- A sewer manhole began overflowing at about 11:30 p.m. on Monday and was stopped at about 11 a.m. Tuesday. About 138,000 gallons reached a tributary to Walnut Creek during the 11 hour overflow.
- 3409 Lassiter Falls Circle- A sewer manhole began overflowing at about 11 p.m. Monday, causing 138,000 gallons of wastewater to reach Crabtree Creek. The overflow was stopped at about 2:20 p.m. Tuesday, after overflow occurred for about 15 hours.
- 3316 Alleghany Drive- Two sewer manholes began overflowing at about 11 p.m. Monday. Overflow occurred for about 15 hours, causing 207,000 gallons of wastewater to reach Crabtree Creek. The overflow was stopped at about 2:20 p.m. Tuesday.
- 3308 Holston Lane- A sewer manhole and sewer siphon box began overflowing at about 10:45 a.m. Tuesday, causing 1,041,667 gallons of wastewater to reach Crabtree Creek. The overflow was stopped at about 5 p.m. Tuesday, after about 6 hours.
- 3265 Anderson Drive- A sewer manhole began overflowing at about 9 p.m. Monday and continued for about 18 hours. About 220,000 gallons of wastewater reached Big Branch Creek before the overflow was stopped at about 3:20 p.m. Tuesday.
- 800 Hardimont Road- A sewer manhole began overflowing at about 2 a.m. Tuesday and continued for about two hours. The overflow caused 18,000 gallons of wastewater to reach Big Branch Creek before it was stopped at about 4 a.m.
Massengill said that several capital improvement projects are underway to address flooding and overflows during weather events.
He cautioned residents to avoid wadding in or crossing flooded areas because of the risk that they may contain wastewater,
“While there is significant dilution from the high volume of storm water flow, flood waters still contain bacteria from human and animal wastes, as well as other contaminants,” he said.
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