Cape Fear Public Utility Authority crews stopped a sanitary sewer overflow (SSO) in the Echo Farms neighborhood Saturday, October 1.
At 11:20 a.m. Saturday, CFPUA received a report of an overflowing manhole near Echo Farms Boulevard in the area of the tennis courts. Crews responded immediately and located a blockage in the sewer main, caused by grease and other debris.
Crews cleared the blockage and normal wastewater flow was restored by 12:30 p.m.
During the SSO, approximately 1,050 gallons of untreated wastewater escaped to a pond near the manhole. CFPUA Environmental Management staff are conducting water sampling in the area, and the N.C. Division of Water Resources has been notified.
CFPUA reminds customers not to pour fats, oils, and grease down the drain, or to flush any products other than toilet paper. These materials can cause backups and blockages in sewer mains, leading to SSOs.