An estimated 38,400 gallons of untreated sewage were discharged over the weekend near Odie Street due to a fence post stuck in an 8-inch sewer main on Daye Street.

Wastewater spilled from a sewer cleanout and traveled down a drainage ditch that begins near 219 Odie St. into an intermittent unnamed tributary stream that eventually joins Bellevue Branch.

Late Saturday afternoon, an odor was reported to the Hillsborough Utilities Department. Utilities workers located and stopped the discharge Monday morning. The Raleigh Regional Office of the North Carolina Division of Water Resources was verbally notified of the spill and will receive a written report. The spill is not believed to have impacted the Eno River.

North Carolina General Statute 143-215.1C requires that the owner or operator of any wastewater collection or treatment works issue a news release in the affected county when an untreated wastewater discharge of 1,000 gallons or more reaches surface waters.

Did You Know?

Many sewage overflows are caused by flushed sanitary products, wipes, grease or other trash.  For more information about pump stations and infrastructure protection, see the town’s About Wastewater page. Also view the No Wipes in the Pipes and Hillsborough Fats, Oils and Grease Program videos on the town’s YouTube channel.

For more information about the sewage overflow, contact Utility System Superintendent Joel Lashley at 919-296-9651 or by email.