Brent
08-18-2005, 07:17 AM
Nearly 100,000 gallons ... how many failed septic systems would it take to equal this environmental damage?
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Electrical Component Failure Causes Sewer Spill at Cary Pump Station
CARY, NC – Several failed electrical components were the cause of a spill discovered on Monday at the Town of Cary’s sanitary sewer pump station located off Holly Brook Drive in southern Cary. At this time it’s estimated that 94,579 gallons of untreated waste escaped from a manhole outside the pump station and reached an unnamed tributary of Middle Creek.
Crews responded by cleaning the affected area with 369,000 gallons of de-chlorinated water. About 212 small dead fish, averaging 1 - 3 inches in length, were also removed from the site.
The sanitary sewer overflow was discovered around 8 a.m. on August 15 during a routine check of the pump station, which had last been visited on Friday, August 12. In addition to the spill, crews found that the Town’s automated alarm system was part of the electrical failure. While it remains unclear what precipitated the failures, crews replaced a surge arrestor as well as several fuses in the station’s control system to bring the station back into operation.
“It is highly unusual for us to have this sort of multiple failure occur at the same station at the same time,” said Utility Systems Maintenance Manager Sam Tingler. “We will continue our investigation until we are satisfied that we understand what happened and have processes in place to limit the likelihood of such situations happening in the future.”
The Town of Cary’s Holly Brook pump station was put into service in 1997.
The Clean Water Act requires public notice in the form of a news release issued by public works operators within 48 hours of the detection of a wastewater overflow of 1,000 gallons or greater that also reaches surface waters. Paid advertisements are also necessary for spills in excess of 14,999 gallons.
Citizens living or working near a sewer line, manhole or pumping station are encouraged to report any and all unusual smells and sights immediately to the Town by calling Public Works & Utilities at (919) 469-4090.
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PRIMARY CONTACTS: Sam Tingler, Manager of Utility Systems Maintenance, (919) 469-4095
Bill Coleman, Town Manager, (919) 469-4002
Susan Moran, Public Information Officer, (919) 460-4951
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Electrical Component Failure Causes Sewer Spill at Cary Pump Station
CARY, NC – Several failed electrical components were the cause of a spill discovered on Monday at the Town of Cary’s sanitary sewer pump station located off Holly Brook Drive in southern Cary. At this time it’s estimated that 94,579 gallons of untreated waste escaped from a manhole outside the pump station and reached an unnamed tributary of Middle Creek.
Crews responded by cleaning the affected area with 369,000 gallons of de-chlorinated water. About 212 small dead fish, averaging 1 - 3 inches in length, were also removed from the site.
The sanitary sewer overflow was discovered around 8 a.m. on August 15 during a routine check of the pump station, which had last been visited on Friday, August 12. In addition to the spill, crews found that the Town’s automated alarm system was part of the electrical failure. While it remains unclear what precipitated the failures, crews replaced a surge arrestor as well as several fuses in the station’s control system to bring the station back into operation.
“It is highly unusual for us to have this sort of multiple failure occur at the same station at the same time,” said Utility Systems Maintenance Manager Sam Tingler. “We will continue our investigation until we are satisfied that we understand what happened and have processes in place to limit the likelihood of such situations happening in the future.”
The Town of Cary’s Holly Brook pump station was put into service in 1997.
The Clean Water Act requires public notice in the form of a news release issued by public works operators within 48 hours of the detection of a wastewater overflow of 1,000 gallons or greater that also reaches surface waters. Paid advertisements are also necessary for spills in excess of 14,999 gallons.
Citizens living or working near a sewer line, manhole or pumping station are encouraged to report any and all unusual smells and sights immediately to the Town by calling Public Works & Utilities at (919) 469-4090.
###
PRIMARY CONTACTS: Sam Tingler, Manager of Utility Systems Maintenance, (919) 469-4095
Bill Coleman, Town Manager, (919) 469-4002
Susan Moran, Public Information Officer, (919) 460-4951