More Raw Sewage Flows into Catawba
More than 11,000 gallons spilled into Catawba basin creeks during Tuesday's (May 5) rainfall
Sanitary Sewer along Little Sugar Creek Greenway- Charlotte, NC
(May 6, 2009) Area streams were unable to avoid disaster during yesterday's thunderstorms. While incorporating all of the stormwater runoff, the Catawba's creeks also took in thousands of gallons of overflowing sewage!
A statement today from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities reports the overflow of more than 11,000 gallons of raw sewage into three Mecklenburg County creeks.
Briar Creek felt the full force of the raw sewage overflow. Approximately 5,220 gallons of raw sewage entered the creek near the Eastover region of Charlotte. Little Sugar Creek incorporated approximately 3,475 gallons of untreated wastewater. McMullen Creek also took in approximately 2,500 gallons of waste.
Stormwater pipes discharge directly into the closest creek or stream, while wastewater pipes deliver water to treatment facilities before being discharged to our surface waters. During this rain event, the utililites underground pipe network was compromised. "We should all be aware that continuos improvements in our underground infrastructure are necessary to eliminate this unneccesarry and avoidable release of sewage into the Catawba River," states David Merryman, Catawba Riverkeeper.
