FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Mike McGill
(910) 332-6704
After Hours: (910) 622-8472
mike.mcgill@cfpua.org
communications@cfpua.org
This news release was issued on September 13, 2013, in compliance with North Carolina General Statute 143-251.1C (a portion of the Clean Water Act of 1999). For further information, contact Mike McGill, Chief Communications Officer for the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority (CFPUA) at the contact numbers and emails given above.
Wilmington, NC (September 13, 2013): Cape Fear Public Utility Authority (CFPUA) crews responded to and stopped a sanitary sewer overflow (SSO) that occurred Wednesday, September 11, 2013, at approximately 1:50 p.m. near Weybridge Lane in Tanglewood. The SSO was the result of mechanical failure; an air release valve failed on a force main. CFPUA crews responded quickly to stop the overflow by approximately 2:50 p.m, Wednesday afternoon. However, an estimated 2,779 gallons of wastewater reached a small stream leading into an unnamed tributary of Whiskey Creek. CFPUA Environmental Management staff members have conducted water quality monitoring in the area and the incident has been reported to the North Carolina Division of Water Quality.
The failed air release value was repaired Wednesday afternoon by CFPUA crews and operations in the area have returned to normal.
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Cape Fear Public Utility Authority (CFPUA) was formed by the City of Wilmington and New Hanover County to combine their water and sewer operations. It began operations on July 1, 2008. Today, the Authority serves more than 67,000 water customer accounts and more than 63,000 wastewater customer accounts. It oversees more than 1,000 miles of water distribution mains and nearly 1,000 miles of sewer mains. For more information, visit www.cfpua.org or contact CFPUA’s Communications staff at communications@cfpua.org.