Heavy rains blamed for Mount Olive sewer spill
By News-Argus Staff
Published in News on August 2, 2018 5:50 AM
MOUNT OLIVE -- The heavy rains that resulted in an approximately 45,000-gallon sewer spill Monday night are expected through the remainder of the week.
The spill occurred as a result of 3.75 inches of rain within a 12-hour period, town officials said.
The discharge in Mount Olive's wastewater treatment plant at 408 Wilkins Farm Road was first discovered at 8 p.m. Monday.
It lasted until approximately 1 a.m. on Tuesday before being brought under control by treatment plant personnel.
The untreated waste entered the headwaters of the North East Cape Fear River.
State law requires public notice when a waste spill of 1,000 gallons or more reaches surface waters.
No other problems had been reported in the county as of Wednesday morning, said Mel Powers, Wayne County Emergency Management Services director.
Central North Carolina remains under a hazardous weather outlook with pockets of local heavy rainfall possible through today and into Friday.
The downpours may produce localized street flooding in areas of poor drainage. The chance of showers and thunderstorms continues through Tuesday.
The National Weather Service has recorded 1.94 inches of rain at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base since Sunday.
However, totals could be higher or lower in other parts of the county, the National Weather Service reports.
There is a slight chance of showers today, with showers and thunderstorms likely after 8 a.m. New rainfall amounts of between a tenth and a quarter of an inch are possible, with higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Showers and thunderstorms are likely before 2 a.m. Friday, with a slight chance of showers following. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch are possible, with higher amounts possible in thunderstorms, according to the NWS.
On Friday, there is a chance of showers and thunderstorms likely after 8 a.m. New rainfall amounts of between a tenth and quarter of an inch are possible.Higher amounts are possible in thunderstorms.
Showers and thunderstorms are expected mostly before 8 p.m. Friday.
New rainfall amounts of between a tenth and a quarter of an inch are possible and higher amounts are possible in thunderstorms.
For additional information about Monday's sewer spill, contact Town Manager and Public Information Officer Charles Brown at 919-658-9539.