Cape Fear Public Utility Authority (CFPUA) crews investigated several sanitary sewer overflows (SSO) during the Hurricane Florence event. CFPUA determined that the following sanitary sewer overflows were due to hurricane conditions, ongoing heavy rainfall, strong winds, power outages, and flooding:
In preparation of the storm, CFPUA had 123 generators strategically placed and operating at pump stations. After conditions were declared safe for crews to mobilize, teams were deployed and they consistently evaluated the system 24/7. CFPUA took every possible step to minimize the impact of the system releases to the environment. Actions included:
- Refueling generators
- Rotating portable generators from one location to another as needed
- Pumping floodwater from stations
- Managing sanitary sewer bypass operations
- Conducting pumping and hauling operations
Currently, many of the stations are back on commercial power. There are still some stations that continue to operate on generator power. CFPUA has four crews still performing ongoing system checks and maintenance.
CFPUA continues our recovery phase after Hurricane Florence. Most volume estimates will not be available due to the hurricane conditions during which the sanitary sewer overflows occurred. All spills were reported to NC Division of Water Quality.
This news release is issued on September 19, 2018, in compliance with North Carolina General Statute 143-215.1C (a portion of the Clean Water Act of 1999). For further information, contact the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority at 910-332-6704.