The Hillsborough Stormwater and Environmental Services Division is monitoring cleanup efforts after approximately 50 gallons of cleaning product leaked into a creek this week.

On Tuesday, the town was notified of a green chemical in a creek that flows through the Town Cemetery. Upon investigation, it was discovered that the chemical was tire and wheel cleaner from a nearby car wash that leaked into the creek when a fitting on the car wash’s dispensing system failed. The system is above ground; however, the leak flowed into a floor drain that appears to empty into the creek.

The car wash was closed on Tuesday once the contamination was discovered.

The town will require the car wash’s drainage system to be repaired so that wastewater flows to the town’s sewer system. The car wash will remain closed until those repairs are made.

On Tuesday, Orange County Emergency Management led the initial response and notified the state. Orange Rural Fire Department installed booms in the creek to absorb and slow the flow of the cleaning product. Hillsborough Police Department monitored the situation overnight.

The car wash owner has hired Clean Harbors to clean up and remediate the creek. The remediation company began working Tuesday evening and continued working through Wednesday. Cleanup efforts included placing additional booms in the creek to absorb the chemicals and using a vacuum truck to remove the contaminated water.

By Wednesday afternoon, the cleaning product’s bright color had faded in the Town Cemetery, where the damage had been most notable.

The Hillsborough Stormwater and Environmental Services Division will issue a notice of violation of the town’s illicit discharge ordinance, said Terry Hackett, the division manager. Hackett has been providing updates on the contamination and remediation to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality. 

To learn more about town stormwater regulations and how to spot and report illicit discharges and illegal dumping, see the town's Stormwater and Environmental Services page.