Municipal Waste Effluent

[Cathy]

How many failed septic tanks is this equal to?

Hmmmm......

And when they find the underwater manhole, what are they going to do?


EXCESSIVE RAINS LEAD TO ONGOING SEWER OVERFLOW AT CARY WASTEWATER TREATMENT
PLANT

CARY, NC – The Town of Cary is working with the N.C. Department of
Environment and Natural Resources to investigate an ongoing sewer spill
that began at 9:46 a.m. on Thursday, June 15 at the North Cary Water
Reclamation Facility, 1900 Old Reedy Creek Road. Officials estimated that
untreated sewage in excess of 500,000 gallons per day is leaking from an
adjacent pump station’s wet well and making its way into Lake Crabtree. No
fish kill has been observed as of yet.

Rains from the remnants of Tropical Storm Alberto have caused unprecedented
lake flooding over sewer system manholes that are upstream of Cary’s pump
station and treatment plant. Millions of gallons of this floodwater is
making its way into Cary’s treatment system. Normally, the Town processes
about six-million gallons of wastewater at this plant per day; currently,
the Town is treating 17 million gallons of wastewater per day, which is
still not enough processing to keep up with demand.

“We are working around the clock to find the source of the water
infiltration,” said the Town’s Utilities Director Rob Bonné. “As many as
15 employees have been searching during daylight hours by boat and canoe as
well as wading in the floodwaters to find the trouble spot, which is likely
a dislodged manhole cover. Crews will continue working over the weekend to
find the source of the problem.”

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.

###

PRIMARY CONTACTS: Rob Bonné, Utilities Director, (919) 469-4303
April R. Little, Public Information
Specialist, (919) 393-4383 (pager)
Susan Moran, Public Information Officer,
(919) 460-4951

[bobo]

Cathy wrote:

Excerpt:


Officials estimated that untreated sewage in excess of 500,000 gallons per day is leaking from an adjacent pump station’s wet well and making its way into Lake Crabtree.

Wow, that's a lot of untreated sewage. Cary's dismal record on sewage containment is certainly something to be feared! I'd certainly hate to live anywhere near a Cary managed sewage plant, worse yet I'd hate to have one anywhere in the vicinity of my drinking water source. :roll:

[StanN]

Cathy said,


How many failed septic tanks is this equal to?

The truth is that we have no idea about how many septic fiields and tanks are malfunctioning until they pollute the ground water (and possibly the well water) around them. There is no periodic inspection. There are no standard requirements for measuring the level of effluent and emptying out your tank. There are no maintenance requirements.
No measurements of untreated effluent are made...despite the fact that a malfunctioning septic system is a nuisance and even a danger to the neighborhood. In fact there have been few standards as to how well the system is installed in the first place. (As of three or four years ago.)Why do you think that has been the case?

Lets get "real"...the tens of thousands of folks with septic systems would vote the commissioners out of office in a nano second if they had to pay an annual inspection fee. And who cares about their neighbors down the street anymore...particularly if they are "aliens" living in Cary.

Other counties have septic system "utilities" to make sure the systems function properly - but not Wake.

And Cathy, one other point. Let's give you that after an extensive scientific study we find that you are correct. Would you have the entire Triangle area on septic systems, zoned for R40 or R80? Then we could have increased air pollution from the cars and increase the odds of global warming. Oh, I forgot about the novelist who says global warming
is a myth. And oh, I forgot YOUR property rights would not be restrained. Haven't you ever read The Tragedy of the Commons?

And BOBO how do you know Cary's performance is "dismal"? What
standards.

are you using? Is this a case of starting with your dislike of the NewHill treatment plant and then dreaming up the case to suit your conclusions? Thats clear Bull effluent.

StanN

[bobo]

Stan wrote:


And BOBO how do you know Cary's performance is "dismal"? What standards are you using? Is this a case of starting with your dislike of the NewHill treatment plant and then dreaming up the case to suit your conclusions? Thats clear Bull effluent.


If you think three reported sewage spill in less than 24 months is dreaming up a case to suit my conclusions (whatever that means), than so be it. Personally, I think that's a pretty dismal record, don't you?

No ones "dreaming" Stan, I wouldn't have made the comment if I didn't honestly believe it to be true. :wink:

[Wuptdo]

In the not to distant past, I believe the folks mentioned below use to put out a report of the worst violators of discharge (Raleigh being one of the worst). I had no luck finding that report, but knowing Gov. Weasly's and the NCSL view of the environment, somehow I think that report is no longer funded. (File that under, "head in the sand" please) Anyway, maybe someone can do better research.

http://h2o.enr.state.nc.us/wastewater.html

Wuptdo B-)

[bobo]

Hey Stan, did Cary have another sewage spill today? 8-O

A friend told me she was forced to detour a section of US1 today due to a sewage spill in Cary. Anyone know if this is related to the recent spill or is this a new spill? If my friend was mistaken, I'm sure someone will let me know. :wink:

[bobo]

A friend told me she was forced to detour a section of US1 today due to a sewage spill in Cary. Anyone know if this is related to the recent spill or is this a new spill? If my friend was mistaken, I'm sure someone will let me know.

Am I to assume the silence means there was another spill yesterday? 8-O