HomeMy WebLinkAboutWQCS00013_Return_20230123 (2)ROY COOPER
Governor
ELIZABETH S. BISER
Secretary
RICHAM E. ROGERS, JR.
Director
Jamie Revels, Utilities Director
Town of Cary
PO Box 8005
Cary, NC 27512-8005
Dear Permittee:
\f QUhMNa j
NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
01/23/2023
Subject: REMISSION REQUEST
CIVIL PENALTY ASSESSMENT
Town of Cary Collection System
Wake County
PERMIT NO: WQCS00013
CASE NO: DV-2022-0138
This letter is to acknowledge your request for remission of the civil penalty levied against the subject
facility. Unfortunately, the Division received the request after the allotted thirty (30) days from your
receipt of the assessment. Therefore, the request for remission cannot be accepted. Please find attached
the originally submitted request for remission.
If you have any questions about this matter, please contact Celeste Sugg at (919) 707-3628 or via e-mail
at Celeste.Sugg@ncdenr.gov
Sincerely,
lt')l Cz&e_& av?,
Celeste Sugg
Division of Water Resources
cc: Laserfiche
NCDEQ Raleigh Regional Office
D E Q ,fJ North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources
512 North Salisbury Street 1 1617 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617
NORTH CAROLINA (J1(�.'�O'�.(�OQO
Department of Emlmnmenfal Duali�
January 12, 2023
Mr. Scott Vinson, Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Raleigh Regional Office
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ
1628 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1628
TOWN OF CARY
EIVED
JAN 2 3 823
NCDEQIDIIVRINOS
CERTIFIED MAIL
Subject: Notice of Violation and Assessment of Civil Penalty (Case DV-2022-0138)
Request for Remission of Civil Penalty
Dear Mr. Vinson:
On December 21, 2022, the Cary Utilities Department received a Notice of Violation
(NOV) and Assessment of Civil Penalty (DV-2022-0138) letter dated December 5, 2022,
from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Water
Resources — Raleigh Regional Office for a sanitary sewer overflow (SSO) that occurred
on June 9, and June 22, 2022. The letter assesses a total penalty of $500 plus
enforcement costs for the June overflows. The NOV provides Cary the option to 1) submit
payment for the penalty, 2) submit written request for remission or mitigation, or 3) file a
petition for an administrative hearing within 30 days from receipt of the letter to address
the NOV and civil penalty assessment for the SSO.
Incident #
Violation
Violation Type
Violation Description
Total
Penalty
Date
Volume
Amount
Gal
202200880
6/9/2022
CSO/SSO
Discharge without a
2,917
$250.00
Sewer Overflow)
valid permit
202200983
6/22/2022
CSO/SSO
Discharge without a
3,759
$250.00
Sewer Overflow
valid permit
Cary takes pride in protecting the environment by providing exceptional wastewater
collection and treatment services for which we have been recognized by our peers as
industry leaders. The top priority for our wastewater utility is to provide safe and reliable
wastewater collection and treatment services that are properly operated and maintained
to exceptional professional standards that meet and surpass all federal and state
requirements for environmental and community protection. We appreciate the opportunity
to provide additional justification for remission of the $536.57 civil penalty assessment.
TOWN 0/ CARY
400 James Jackson Avenue • Cary, NC 27513 o PO Box 8005 • Cary, NC 27512-8005
tel 919-469-4090 ® fax 919-469-4304 • www.townofcary.org
Request for Remission of Civil Penalty January 12, 2023
Pursuant to NCGS 143B-282.1(c) remission of a civil penalty may be granted only when
one or more of the following 5 factors apply:
a. One or more of the civil penalty assessment factors in NCGS 143B-282.1(b) were
wrongfully applied to the detriment of the petitioner
b. The violator promptly abated continuing environmental damage resulting from the
violation
c. The violation was inadvertent or a result of an accident
d. The violator had not been assessed civil penalties for any previous violations
e. Payment of the civil penalty will prevent payment for the remaining necessary
remedial action
June 6. 2022 — 4100 Cary Oaks Drive, Incident #202200880
We believe that factors b, c, or d apply and should be considered in reviewing the civil
penalty assessment and our associated request for remission.
Remission Factor b: The violator promptly abated continuing environmental
damage resulting from the violation.
Cary responded quickly to stop the sewer spill. Once onsite, staff immediately removed
the blockage from the 10-inch sewer line causing the SSO and promptly began cleaning
up the spill. A temporary dam was constructed downstream in Camp Branch beyond the
location where the sewer spill advanced. Pumps were set up and the stream was flushed
with 66,500 gallons of dechlorinated potable water. The combined wastewater and
flushing waters were pumped into the sanitary sewer system for advanced treatment.
Cleaning and flushing occurred for approximately 12 hours to help restore the stream.
Remission Factor c: The violation was inadvertent or a result of an accident
The sewer spill was inadvertent and accidental as determined by a review of the actual
cause of the SSO. The cause of the SSO was associated with a 10-inch sewer line
cleaning that was performed on June 8, 2022 by Cary staff in preparation for a planned
sewer line maintenance and repair project. The sewer line was being proactively cleaned
for a planned pump station force main pigging/cleaning operation and the associated
replacement of an air release valve and manhole. Cleaning activity removed debris from
the 10-inch gravity sewer line, and debris strainers and vacuum trucks were used to
collect the debris. Unfortunately, some gravel and debris traveled downstream to an
adjoining sewer line and manhole, resulting in an accidental obstruction that subsequently
contributed to the inadvertent backup and SSO.
Cary takes a proactive and predictive approach to the operation and maintenance of our
collection system. With the planned cleaning operation performed to support sewer
system rehabilitation, it was completely inadvertent and an accident that a spill resulted
from those proactive efforts and was not caused by neglect, or the lack of Cary
maintaining our collection system.
Request for Remission of Civil Penalty January 12, 2023
Remission Factor d: The violator had not been assessed civil penalties for any
previous violations
Cary has not been assessed any civil penalties for any collection system (WQCS00013)
violations within the last 5-years or sewer blockages and/or SSO caused by an
inadvertent SSO caused by proactive sewer maintenance. Cary's extensive sewer
collection system maintenance records do not identify manholes SP76011033,
SP76011035 or the associated sewer line segment to have any past or repeated
compliance issues.
June 22, 2022 — 8921 Holly Springs Road, Incident #202200983
We believe that factors b, c, and d apply and should be considered in remising the civil
penalty assessment.
Remission Factor b: The violator promptly abated continuing environmental
damage resulting from the violation.
Cary responded quickly to stop the sewer spill. Once onsite staff immediately removed
the concrete construction debris blockage from the 8-inch sewer line causing the SSO
and promptly began cleaning up the spill. A temporary dam was constructed downstream
in the unnamed tributary that leads to Camp Branch beyond the location where the sewer
spill advanced. Pumps were set up and the stream was flushed with 17,200 gallons of
potable water. The combined wastewater and flushing waters were pumped into the
sanitary sewer system for advanced treatment. Cleaning and flushing occurred for
approximately 1.5 hours to help restore the stream.
Remission Factor c: The violation was inadvertent or a result of an accident
The sewer spill was inadvertent and accidental as determined by a review of the actual
cause of the SSO. The cause was associated with a piece of broken concrete that was
found in the 8-inch sewer line that resulted in a backup and SSO. Cary was not able to
determine if the construction debris was inadvertently placed in the sewer system or fell
into the sewer system leading to the blockage. Eighty-eight minnows were affected by the
sewer spill and cleanup efforts. Ambient air temperatures at the time the spill occurred
were at approximately 100 degrees which is believed to be a contributing factor in the
unfortunate fish kill. A couple of slow moving or stagnant pools of water in the unnamed
tributary combined with the high temperatures, overflow, and stream cleaning contributed
to the inadvertent stream conditions and fish kill.
Remission Factor d: The violator had not been assessed civil penalties for any
previous violations
Cary has not been assessed any civil penalties for any collection system (WQCS00013)
violations within the last 5-years or sewer blockages and SSO caused by an inadvertent
SSO caused by construction debris that led to a blockage. Cary's extensive sewer
collection system maintenance records do not identify manhole SP76011061 or the
associated sewer line segment to have any past or repeated compliance issues.
Request for Remission of Civil Penalty January 12, 2023
We appreciate the opportunity to provide additional information and our perspective on
the unfortunate sewer spills. These instances are the only sewer spills that have occurred
in the specific areas identified within our collection system and immediate action was
taken to prevent an SSO reoccurrence. We respectfully request that NCDEQ remove the
$536.57 civil penalty assessment by further evaluating our spill response, the proactive
system maintenance Cary performs, the cause of the spills, and Cary's exceptional record
of wastewater collection system compliance. If we can answer any questions or provide
any additional information, please feel free to contact Mr. Donald Smith, Wastewater
Collection System Manager at (919) 469-4095.
Sincerely,
ie Revels, P.E.
Utilities Director
Cc: Donald Smith, Wastewater Collection System Manager
Paul Campbell, Wastewater Collection System Operator
PERCS Branch, Division of Water Resources
Attachments:
• NCDEQ Notice of Violation and Assessment of Civil Penalty — DV-2022-0138
• Justification for Remission Request Form and Stipulation of Facts Form — DV-
2022-0138
• NCDEQ Notice of Violation — NOI to issue Civil Penalty — NOV2022-DV-0194
• NOV2022-DV-0194 Cary Response Letter including 5-day spill reports and news
releases.
• 2020-2021 Cary Annual Wastewater Report
• 2021-2022 Cary Annual Wastewater Report
.4/ZtI u>Z-2,
ROY COOPER
Governor
ELIZABETH S. BISER
Secretary
RICHARD E. ROGERS, JR.
Director
Certified Mail # 7020 3160 0000 4115 5481
Return Receipt Requested
Jamie Revels, Utilities Director
Town of Cary
PO Box 8005
Cary, NC 27512-8005
NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
December 05, 2022
SUBJECT: Notice of Violation and Assessment of Civil Penalty
for Violations of North Carolina General Statute (G.S.) 143-215.l(a)(1)
and Collection System Permit No. WQCS00013
Town of Cary
Cary Collection System
Case No. DV-2022-0138
Wake County
Dear Mr. Revels:
This letter transmits a Notice of Violation and assessment of civil penalty in the amount of $536.57 ($500.00 civil penalty +
$36.57 enforcement costs) against Town of Cary.
This assessment is based upon the following facts: a review has been conducted of the Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSO)
5-Day Report submitted by Town of Cary. This review has shown the subject facility to be in violation of the requirements
found in Collection System Permit No. WQCS00013 and G.S. 143-215.1(a)(1). The violation(s) that occurred are
summarized in Attachment A to this letter.
Based upon the above facts, I conclude as a matter of law that Town of Cary violated the terms, conditions or requirements
of Collection System Permit No. WQCS00013 and G.S. 143-215.1(a)(1) in the manner and extent shown in Attachment A.
In accordance with the maximums established by G.S. 143-215.6A(a)(2), a civil penalty may be assessed against any
person who violates the terms, conditions or requirements of a permit required by G.S. 143-215.1(a).
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources
Raleigh Regional Office 1 3800 Barrett Drive I Raleigh. North Carolina 27609
• u.r+a.av 919.791.4200
Based upon the above findings of fact and conclusions of law, and in accordance with authority provided by the
Secretary of the Department of Environmental Quality and the Director of the Division of Water Resources, I, Scott
Vinson, Regional Supervisor, Raleigh Regional Office hereby make the following civil penalty assessment against Town
of Cary:
500.00 For 2 of the 2 violations of Collection System Permit No. WQCS00013 and G.S. 143-215.1(a)(1) for
Sanitary Sewer Overflow(s) resulting in a discharge without a valid permit.
$500.00 TOTAL CIVIL PENALTY
36.57 Enforcement Costs
$536.57 TOTAL AMOUNT DUE
Pursuant to G.S. 143-215.6A(c), in determining the amount of the penalty I have taken into account the Findings of Fact and
Conclusions of Law and the factors set forth at G.S. 143B-282. I (b), which are:
(1) The degree and extent of harm to the natural resources of the State, to the public health, or to private property
resulting from the violation;
(2) The duration and gravity of the violation;
(3) The effect on ground or surface water quantity or quality or on air quality;
(4) The cost of rectifying the damage;
(5) The amount of money saved by noncompliance;
(6) Whether the violation was committed willfully or intentionally;
(7) The prior record of the violator in complying or failing to comply with programs over which the Environmental
Management Commission has regulatory authority; and
(8) The cost to the State of the enforcement procedures.
Within thirty (30) days of receipt of this notice, you must do one of the following:
(1) Submit payment of the penalty, OR
(2) Submit a written request for remission, OR
(3) Submit a written request for an administrative hearing
Option 1: Submit payment of the penalty:
Payment should be made directly to the order of the Department of Environmental Quality (do not include waiver
form). Payment of the penalty will not foreclose further enforcement action for any continuing or new violation(s).
Please submit payment to the attention of:
Attn: PERCS Branch
Division of Water Resources
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617
Option 2: Submit a written request for remission or mitigation including a detailed justification for such
request:
Please be aware that a request for remission is limited to consideration of the five factors listed below as they may
relate to the reasonableness of the amount of the civil penalty assessed. Requesting remission is not the proper
procedure for contesting whether the violation(s) occurred or the accuracy of any of the factual statements contained in
the civil penalty assessment document. Because a remission request forecloses the option of an administrative hearing,
such a request must be accompanied by a waiver of your right to an administrative hearing and a stipulation and
agreement that no factual or legal issues are in dispute. Please prepare a detailed statement that establishes why you
believe the civil penalty should be remitted and submit it to the Division of Water Resources at the address listed below.
In determining whether a remission request will be approved, the following factors shall be considered:
(1) whether one or more of the civil penalty assessment factors in NCGS 14313-282.1(b) was wrongfully
applied to the detriment of the petitioner;
(2) whether the violator promptly abated continuing environmental damage resulting from the violation;
(3) whether the violation was inadvertent or a result of an accident;
(4) whether the violator had been assessed civil penalties for any previous violations; or
(5) whether payment of the civil penalty will prevent payment for the remaining necessary remedial actions.
Please note that all evidence presented in support of your request for remission must be submitted in writing. The
Director of the Division of Water Resources will review your evidence and inform you of his decision in the matter of
your remission request. The response will provide details regarding the case status, directions for payment, and
provision for further appeal of the penalty to the Environmental Management Commission's Committee on Civil Penalty
Remissions (Committee). Please be advised that the Committee cannot consider information that was not part of the
original remission request considered by the Director. Therefore, it is very important that you prepare a complete and
thorough statement in support of your request for remission.
In order to request remission you must complete and submit the enclosed "Request for Remission of Civil Penalties
Waiver of Right to an Administrative Hearing and Stipulation of Facts" form within thirty (30Ldays of receipt of this
notice. The Division of Water Resources also requests that you complete and submit the enclosed "Justification for
Remission Request."
Both forms should be submitted to the following address:
Attn: PERCS Branch
Division of Water Resources
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617
AND
Scott Vinson, Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Raleigh Regional Office
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ
1628 Mail Service Center, Raleigh
Raleigh, NC 27699-1628
Option 3: File a petition for an administrative heariniz with the Office of Administrative Hearings:
If you wish to contest any statement in the attached assessment document you must file a petition for an administrative
hearing. You may obtain the petition form from the Office of Administrative Hearings. You must file the petition with
the Office of Administrative Hearings within thirty (30) days of receipt of this notice. A petition is considered filed
when it is received in the Office of Administrative Hearings during normal office hours. The Office of Administrative
Hearings accepts filings Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., except for official state
holidays. The petition may be filed by facsimile (fax) or electronic mail by an attached file (with restrictions) - provided
the signed original, one (1) copy and a filing fee (if a filing fee is required by NCGS §15013-23.2) is received in the
Office of Administrative Hearings within seven (7) business days following the faxed or electronic transmission. You
should contact the Office of Administrative Hearings with all questions regarding the filing fee and/or the details of the
filing process.
The mailing address and telephone and fax numbers for the Office of Administrative Hearings are as follows:
6714 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699 6714
Tel: (919) 431-3000
Fax: (919) 431-3100
One (1) copy of the petition must also be served on DEQ as follows:
Mr. William F. Lane, General Counsel
Department of Environmental Quality
1601 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1601
Please indicate the case number (as found on page one of this letter) on the petition.
Failure to exercise one of the options above within thirty (30) days of receipt of this letter, as evidenced by an internal
date/time received stamp (not a postmark), will result in this matter being referred to the Attorney General's Office for
collection of the penalty through a civil action. Please be advised that additional penalties may be assessed for violations
that occur after the review period of this assessment.
If you have any questions, please contact Mitchell Hayes with the Division of Water Resources staff of the Raleigh
Regional Office at (919) 791-4200 or via email at mitch.hayes@ncdenr.gov.
Sincerely,
Scott Vinson, Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Raleigh Regional Office
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ
ATTACHMENTS
Laserfiche
JUSTIFICATION FOR REMISSION REQUEST
Case Number: DV-2022-0138 County: Wake
Assessed Party: Town of Cary
Permit No.: WQCS00013 Amount Assessed: $536.57
Please use this form when requesting remission of this civil penalty. You must also complete the "Request For Remission,
Waiver of Right to an Administrative Hearing, and Stipulation of Facts" form to request remission of this civil penalty.
You should attach any documents that you believe support your request and are necessary for the Director to consider in
evaluating your request for remission. Please be aware that a request for remission is limited to consideration of the five
factors listed below as they may relate to the reasonableness of the amount of the civil penalty assessed. Requesting
remission is not the proper procedure for contesting whether the violation(s) occurred or the accuracy of any of the factual
statements contained in the civil penalty assessment document. Pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 143B-282.1(c), remission of a civil
penalty may be granted only when one or more of the following five factors apply. Please check each factor that you
believe applies to your case and provide a detailed explanation, including copies of supporting documents, as to why the
factor applies (attach additional pages as needed).
(a) one or more of the civil penalty assessment factors in N.C.G.S. 14313-282.1(b) were wrongfully applied to the
detriment of the petitioner (the assessment factors are listed in the civil penalty assessment document);
(b) the violator promptly abated continuing environmental damage resulting from the violation (i.e., explain the
steps that you took to correct the violation and prevent future occurrences);
X (c) the violation was inadvertent or a result of an accident (i.e., explain why the violation was unavoidable or
something you could not prevent or prepare for);
(d) the violator had not been assessed civil penalties for any previous violations;
(e) payment of the civil penalty will prevent payment for the remaining necessary remedial actions (i.e., explain
how payment of the civil penalty will prevent you from performing the activities necessary to achieve
compliance).
EXPLANATION:
se a- e%rve% 12, t wo v5 yc t� `u.es-�r- �
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
COUNTY OF WAKE
IN THE MATTER OF ASSESSMENT ) WAIVER OF RIGHT TO AN
OF CIVIL PENALTIES AGAINST ) ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING AND
STIPULATION OF FACTS
Town of Cary )
Cary Collection System )
PERMIT NO. WQCS00013 ) CASE NO. DV-2022-0138
Having been assessed civil penalties totaling $536.57 for violation(s) as set forth in the assessment document of the Division
of Water Resources dated December 05, 2022, the undersigned, desiring to seek remission of the civil penalty, does hereby
waive the right to an administrative hearing in the above -stated matter and does stipulate that the facts are as alleged in the
assessment document. The undersigned further understands that all evidence presented in support of remission of this civil
penalty must be submitted to the Director of the Division of Water Resources within thirty (30) days of receipt of the notice
of assessment. No new evidence in support of a remission request will be allowed after (30) days from the receipt of the
notice of assessment.
This the i a
RECEIVED
�q�2 3 2023
NCDEQIDINRINPDES
day of
ADDRESS
VC) 'ne-'Ziy gCXDS
C,M`rw e�) L
TELEPHONE
PERMIT NO: WQCS00013
FACILITY: Cary Collection System
Other Violations
INCIDENT VIOLATION
NUMBER DATE VIOLATION TYPE
ATTACHMENT A
Town of Cary
CASE NUMBER: DV-2022-0138
VIOLATION DESCRIPTION
REGION: Raleigh
COUNTY: Wake
TOTAL VOLUME PENALTY
(GALLONS) AMOUNT
202200880
6/9/2022
CSO/SSO(Sewer Overflow)
Discharge without valid permit
2,917
$250.00
202200983
6/22/2022
CSO/SSO(Sewer Overflow)
Discharge without valid permit
3,759
$250.00
ROY COOPER
Govemor
ELIZABETH S. BISER
Secretary
RICHARD E. ROGERS, JR.
Director
Certified Mail # 7QiZQ 1160 0000 4109 6142
Return Receipt Re Ugsted
Jamie Revels, Director of Public Utilities
Town of Cary
PO Box 8005
Cary, NC 27512-8005
.QVAM
�,
NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
July 14, 2022
SUBJECT: NOTICE OF VIOLATION & INTENT TO ISSUE CIVIL PENALTY
Tracking No.: NOV-2022-DV-0194
Sanitary Sewer Overflows - June 2022
Collection System Permit No. WQCS00013
Cary Collection System
Wake County
Dear Mr. Revels:
A review has been conducted of the self -reported Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSO's) 5-Day Reports submitted by
Town of Cary. The Division's Raleigh Regional Office concludes that the Town of Cary violated Permit Condition 1
(2) of Permit No. WQCS00013 by failing to effectively manage, maintain, and operate their collection system so
that there is no SSO (Sanitary Sewer Overflow) to the land or surface waters and the SSO constituted making an
outlet to waters of the State for purposes of G.S. 143-215.1(a)(1), for which a permit is required by G.S.
143-215.1.
The Raleigh Regional Office is providing the Town of Cary an opportunity to provide evidence and justification as
to why the Town of Cary should not be assessed a civil penalty for the violation(s) that are summarized below:
Total Vol
Total Surface
Incident Start Duration Vol Water
Number Date (Mina) Location Cause (Gals) (Gals) DWRAction
202200880 6/9/2022 155 4100 Cary Oaks Dr,
Apex, North Carolina,
27539
Debris in line 2,917 2,917
Notice of Violation -
Notice of Intent
202200983 6/22/2022 92 8921 Holly Springs Rd,
Debris in line 3,759 2,076
Notice of Violation -
Apex, North Carolina,
Notice of Intent
27539
202200839 6/3/2022 35 1102 Queensferry Rd.
Debris in line 217 217
No Further Action
J�
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources
Raleigh Regional Office 1 3800 Barrett Drive I Ralelgh North Carolina 27609
ro.e�u
919.791.4200
This Notice of Violation / Notice of Intent to Enforce (NOV/NOI) is being issued for the noted violation. Pursuant
to G.S. 143-215.6A, a civil penalty of not more than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00) may be assessed
against any person who violates or fails to act in accordance with the terms, conditions, or requirements of any
permit issued pursuant to G.S. 143-215.1.
This office requests that you respond to this Notice, in writing, within 10 business days of its
receipt. In your response, you should address the causes of non-compliance, remedial actions, and all other
actions taken to prevent the recurrence of similar situations. The response to this correspondence will be
considered in this process. Enforcement decisions will also be based on volume spilled, volume reaching surface
waters, duration and gravity, impacts to public health, fish kills or recreational area closures. Other factors
considered in determining the amount of the civil penalty are the violator's history of non-compliance, the cost of
rectifying the damage, whether the spill was intentional and whether money was saved by non-compliance.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Mitchell Hayes with the Water Quality Section in
the Raleigh Regional Office at 919-791-4200 or via email at mitch.hayes@ncdenr.gov.
Sincerely,
Scott Vinson, Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Raleigh Regional Office
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ
Cc: Raleigh Regional Office - WQS File
Laserfiche
�D_FQ North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources
Raleigh Regional Office 1 3800 Barrett Drive I Raleigh, North Carolina 27609
�+�� 919.791.4200
August 4, 2022
Mr. Scott Vinson, Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Raleigh Regional Office
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ
1628 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1628
TOWN OF CARY
CERTIFIED MAIL
Subject: Notice of Violation (NOV-2022-DV-0194): Notice of Intent to Issue Civil Penalt
Dear Mr. Vinson:
On July 28, 2022, the Town of Cary Utilities Department received a Notice of Violation
with a Notice of Intent (NOV-NOI) letter dated July 14, 2022 from the North Carolina
Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Water Resources — Raleigh Regional
Office for two sanitary sewer overflows (SSO) that occurred on June 9 and June 22, 2022.
The NOV letter identifies the SSOs with a notice of intent to enforce and allows Cary the
opportunity to provide evidence or justification within 10 business days from receipt of the
letter to address the cause of non-compliance, remedial actions, and actions to prevent
SSO recurrence.
Incident #
Start Date
Duration
(min)
Location
Cause
Total
Volume
Gal
Total Volume
Surface Water
Gal
DWR Action
202200880
6/9/2022
155
4100 Cary Oaks
Debris
2,917
2,917
Notice of
Drive.
in line
Violation -
Notice of
Intent
202200983
6/22/2022
92
8921 Holly Springs
Debris
3,759
2,076
Notice of
Road.
in line
Violation -
Notice of
Intent
Cary takes pride in the operation and management of our nearly 1,000 miles of
wastewater collection system. We are an award winning and progressive wastewater
utility that has very few reportable or large volume SSO. We place emphasis on
responding quickly to sewer emergencies to prevent and minimize any spills that impact
our citizens, community, and environment. We appreciate the opportunity to provide
information on the recent sewer overflows, our efforts, and justification for why additional
enforcement action or civil penalty should not be assessed to the Town of Cary.
- TOWN Of CARY
400 James Jackson Avenue ° Cary, NC 27513 o PO Box 8005 ° Cary, NC 27512-8005
tel 919-469-4090 o fax 919-469-4304 - www.townofcary.org
SSO Notice of Violation - Notice of Intent August 4, 2022
Sewer Overflow Cause - On June 9, 2022 town staff received a phone call at 5:26 PM
from a citizen that lives adjacent to 4100 Cary Oaks Drive in Apex, reporting water flowing
from a manhole. Cary wastewater collection system staff immediately responded to
investigate the call. Staff observed two overflowing manholes (SP76011033 and
SP76011035) that were adjacent to each other. Sewer was exiting one manhole at a
height of 3.5 inches from four one -inch vent holes and the other manhole three quarters
of an inch through one one -inch vent. Wastewater flowed from the manhole into Camp
Branch. The Sewer Spill Estimation Guide provided on the NCDEQ website along with
site conditions was used to estimate the total sewer spilled reaching the stream. Cary
staff used a hydraulic sewer jetting machine to clear the blockage and stop the sewer
overflow at 8:01 PM.
The cause of the spill was associated with a 10-inch sewer line cleaning that was
preformed on June 8, 2022 in preparation for a planned sewer line maintenance and
repair project. The sewer line was being proactively cleaned for a planned pump station
force main pigging/cleaning operation and the replacement of an air release valve and
manhole. The cleaning activity removed debris from the 10-inch gravity sewer line where
debris strainers and vacuum trucks were used to collect the debris. During the cleaning
operation some gravel and sediment debris traveled downstream to an adjoining sewer
line and manhole which resulted in an obstruction that lead to the backup and SSO.
Sewer Spill Cleanup — After stopping the sewer spill, Cary staff immediately began
cleaning up the spill. A temporary dam was constructed downstream in Camp Branch
beyond where the sewer spill traveled. Pumps were set up and the stream was flushed
with 66,500 gallons of dechlorinated potable water. The wastewater and flushing waters
were pumped into the sanitary sewer system for treatment. Cleaning and flushing
occurred for approximately 12 hours.
Sewer Spill Assessment - The Town performed conductivity readings following the
overflow and during the spill cleanup to assess the spill and cleanup efforts. The following
table provides a summary of the data collected at the time of the SSO and with sewer
spill cleanup. Four small catfish were affected and collected during the spill cleanup.
CONDUCTIVITY
Date/Time =>
June 9, 2022 8:15 PM
June 10, 2022 6:00 AM
Location
Result pS/cm
Result pS/cm
Unaffected water body nearby spill
133
142
SSO entry point to stream
621
235
50' Upstream
133
142
500' Downstream
403
207
900' Downstream
388
213
1,100' Downstream
375
210
1,300' Downstream
353
215
1,400' Downstream
325
196
SSo Notice of Violation — Notice of Intent August 4, 2022
Corrective Actions — On June 10, the NCDEQ Raleigh Regional Office was notified and
a news release was published and distributed within 24 hours following the sewer spill
(Enclosed). After clearing the blockage, the area sewer lines were hydraulicly cleaned
and video inspected (1,411 feet cleaned and 633 feet video inspected) to ensure there
was no additional accumulation or partial sewer line blockages. The video assessment
identified some tuberculation (Photo 1.) on the interior of the 10-inch gravity sewer ductile
iron pipe which contributed to the volume of debris removed with prior cleaning. We are
adding this sewer line segment to our
programming for rehabilitation and cure -in -
place pipe lining.
Cary's history of inspection included
manhole inspections on December 1, 2021
with no issues identified at the time of the
inspection. The sewer line was last cleaned
the week of May 30, 2021. Following the
sewer spill the sewer lines in area were
cleaned and inspected to ensure we did not
have a repeated spill. The planned pump
station force main cleaning and repair
project is still scheduled to occur.
Photo !. - htterior pipe tuberculation
Enforcement Actions — We request NCDEQ to consider that this unfortunate sewer spill
was unintentionally caused by measures that were under way for planning for a proactive
force main cleaning and repair project. We are disappointed that this spill occurred and
that it was caused by our cleaning efforts. As Cary's collection system operation and
maintenance program emphasizes the use of predictive and preventative measures to
keep our system operating properly, this cleaning event supports an important force main
cleaning and repair project which if not addressed could lead to a larger magnitude event.
INCIDENT # 202200983 — 8921 Holly Springs Road
Sewer Overflow Cause - On June 22, 2022 town staff received a phone call at 11:30 AM
from a citizen reporting water flowing from a manhole located at 8921 Holly Springs Road,
Apex. Cary wastewater collection system staff immediately responded to investigate the
call. Staff observed an overflowing manhole (SP76011061). Sewer was exiting 2 vent
holes at a height of a quarter of an inch and flowed into a depression in the ground that
ponded in an area 45' X 20' with an average depth of 4-inches. Wastewater flowed from
the ponded area into an unnamed tributary to Camp Branch. The Sewer Spill Estimation
Guide provided on the NCDEQ website along with site conditions was used to estimate
the total sewer spilled that ponded and reached the stream. Sewer volume estimates
were based on a larger estimated total volume due to site conditions, spill ponding, and
SSO Notice of Violation — Notice of Intent August 4, 2022
a citizen report that was received regarding a leak on
June 21, but no sewer spill was found. Cary staff used
a hydraulic sewer jetting machine to clear the
blockage and stop the sewer overflow at 1:02 PM. The
cause of the spill was a piece of broken concrete
(Photo 2.) from past construction activities that
allowed debris to collect in the 8-inch sewer line
leading to a blockage.
Sewer Spill Cleanup — After stopping the sewer spill,
Cary staff immediately began cleaning up the spill. A
temporary dam was constructed downstream in the
tributary beyond the sewer spill site. Pumps were set Photo 2.
up and the creek was flushed with 17,200 gallons of
potable water. The wastewater and flushing waters were pumped into the sanitary sewer
system for treatment. Cleaning and flushing occurred for approximately 1.5 hours.
- Concrete removed from sewer line
Sewer Spill Assessment - The Town performed conductivity readings following the
overflow and during the spill cleanup to assess the spill and cleanup efforts. The following
table provides a summary of the data collected at the time of the SSO and with sewer
spill cleanup. Eighty-eight minnows were affected and collected from the spill cleanup.
The use of potable water, hot weather conditions around 100 degrees, and increased flow
in the tributary is believed to have negatively affected the fish.
CONDUCTIVITY
Date/Time =>
June 22, 2022 3:00 PM
June 22, 2022 4:30 PM
June 22, 2022 6:30 PM
Location
Result pS/cm
Result S/cm
Result pS/cm
Unaffected water
body nearby spill
88.5
225 — includes potable
flush water
230 — includes potable
flush water
SSO entry point
145
243
232
50' Upstream
88.5
225
230
50' Downstream
107
250
234
100' Downstream
262
271
235
150' Downstream
274
280
232
200' Downstream
220
260
238
250' Downstream
180
252
236
Corrective Actions — On June 23, the NCDEQ Raleigh Regional Office was notified and
a news release was published and distributed within 24 hours following the sewer spill
(Enclosed). After clearing the blockage, the sewer lines were hydraulicly cleaned and
video inspected to ensure there were no additional accumulations or sewer line
blockages. The video assessment did not identify any additional issues with the 8-inch
sewer line. Removal of the broken concrete remedied the cause for the blockage, and we
no longer expect there to be any operational issues. Cary's history of inspection included
a manhole and easement inspection December 1, 2021.
SSO Notice of Violation - Notice of Intent August 4, 2022
We appreciate the opportunity in being able to provide information on both unfortunate
sewer spills. These two instances are the only sewer spills that have occurred in those
separate sewer line segment areas. We appreciate NCDEQ's consideration in evaluating
these sewer spills, the cause, and Cary's record and response to remediate and help
ensure that a SSO does not reoccur at these locations. If we can answer any questions
or provide any additional information, please feel free to contact Mr. Donald Smith,
Wastewater Collection System Manager at (919) 469-4095.
Sincerely,
4 mie Revels, P.E.
Utilities Director
Cc: Donald Smith, Wastewater Collection System Manager
Paul Campbell, Wastewater Collection System Operator
Enclosed:
• NCDEQ Notice of Violation — NOI to issue Civil Penalty — NOV2022-DV-0194
• June 10, 2022 News Release — Gravel and Sediment Cause Sewer Spill in Cary
• June 23, 2022 News Release — Construction Debris Causes Sewer Spill in Cary
• Collection System Sanitary Sewer Overflow Reporting Form — Incident # 202200880
• Collection System Sanitary Sewer Overflow Reporting Form — Incident # 202200983
IMM
State of North Carolina
Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Division of Water Resources
Collection System Sanitary Sewer Overflow Reporting Form
Dtvlsion of Water Resources Form CS-SSO
PART 1:
This form shall be submitted to the appropriate DWQ Regional Office within five business days of the first knowledge of the
sanitary sewer overflow (SSO).
Permit Number: WQCS00013 __ (WQCS# if active, otherwise use WQCSD#)
Facility: Cary Collection System Incident #: 202200880
Owner. Town of Cary
City: Ca _q �._____._ _ County: Wake Region: Raleigh
Source of SSO (check applicable). Sanitary Sewer ® Pump Station / Lift Station
SPECIFIC location of the SSO (be consistent in description from past reports or documentation - i.e. Pump Station 6,
Manhole at Westall & Bragg Street, etc): 4100 Cary Oaks Dr, Apex, North Carolina, 27539
Manhole #: 76011033, 76011035
Latitude (Decimal Degrees):
Incident Started Dt: 06/09/2022
(mm-dd-yyyy)
Estimated Volume of the SSO: 2,917
Longitude (Decimal Degrees):
Time: 5:26 pm Incident End Dt: 06/09/2022 Time: 08:01 pm
(hh:mm AM/PM) (mm-dd-yyyy) (hh:mm AM/PM)
gallons Estimated Duration (Round to nearest hour): 2:35 hours
Describe how the volume was determined: Sewer Spill Estimation Guide using spill area, observed flow, and creek condition
Weather conditions during the SSO event: Clear
Did SSO reach surface waters? Fy� Yes ❑ No ❑ Unknown Volume reaching surface waters (gals): 2917
Surface water name: Camp Branch
Did the SSO result in a fish kill? 21 Yes ❑ No ❑ Unknown If Yes, what is the estimated number of fish killed? 4
SPECIFIC cause(s) of the SSO:
Q Debris in line
24 hour verbal notification (name of person contacted ): Chris Smith
0 DWR ❑ Emergency Mgmt Date (mm-dd-yyy): 06/10/2022 Time (hh:mm AM/PM): 10:20:00 am
If an 330 is ongoing, please notify the appropriate Regional Office on a daily basis until SSO can be stopped.
Per G.S. 143-215.1 C(b), the responsible party of a discharge of 1,000 or more of untreated wastewater to surface waters
shall issue a press release within 24-hours of first knowledge to all print and electronic news media providing general
coverage in the county where the discharge occurred. When 15,000 gallons or more of untreated wastewater enters surface
waters, a public notice shall be published within 10 days and proof of publication shall be provided to the Division within 30
days. Refer to the reference statute for further detail.
The Dirr;ctor_Division of Water Resources ay take enforcement action for SSOs that are required W be rer)arted to
Division unless it is demonstrated that:
1) the discharge was cause by sever natural conditions and there were no feasible alternative to the discharge; or
2) the discharge was exceptional, unintentional, temporary and caused by factors beyond the reasonable control of the
Permittee and/or owner, and the discharge could not have been prevented by the exercise of reasonable control.
Part li must be completed to provide a justification claim for either of the above situations. This information will be the basis
WHETHER OR NOT PART III IS COMPLETED, A SIGNATURE IS REQUIRED AT THE END OF THIS FORM
CS-SSO Form Page: 1
PART II:
ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS FOR EACH RELATED CAUSE CHECKED IN PART I OF THIS FORM AND
INCLUDE THE APPROPRIATE DOCUMENTATION AS REQUIRED OR DESIRED
COMPLETE ONLY THOSE SECTONS PERTAINING TO THE CAUSE OF THE SSO AS CHECKED IN PART I
(In the check boxes below, NA = Not Applicable and NE = Not Evaluated)
A HARDCOPY OF THIS FORM SHOULD BE SUBMITTED TO THE APPROPRIATE DWR REGIONAL OFFICE UNLESS IS
Debris in line
What type of debris has been found in the line?
Gravel and sediment
Suspected cause or source of debris.
Sewer lines were being cleaned in the immediate area of spill in preparation for a sewer line repair. Gravel and sediment
buildup from sewer line jetting/cleaning accumulated in a downstream manhole causing the sewer backup and overflow.
Source of gravel and sediment is suspected from past road paving activities in the area.
Are manholes in the area secure and intact?
When was the area last checked/cleaned?
® Yes No ❑ NA ❑ NE
Inspected December 1. 2021 and cleaned between May 31. 2022 and June 9, 2022
Have cleaning and inspections ever been increased at this location due to previous Yes [Z No ❑ NA F NE
problems with debris?
Explain:
The sewer lines were being proactively cleaned in preparation for an upcoming planned sewer line repair.
Are appropriate educational materials being developed and distributed to prevent futt D Yes No ® NA NE
similar occurrences?
Comments:
The blockage was a result from gravel and sediment buildup from sewer line cleaning that was occurring in the area and i
as a result of improper use of the sewer system.
Systern Visitation
ORC ® Yes
Backup Yes
Name:
Donald B. Smith
Cert#
1001030
Date visited:
6/9/2022
Time visited:
8:45 PM
CS-SSO Form Page: 2
How was the SSO remediated (i.e. Stopped and cleaned up)?
The blocked sewer line was hydraulically 'etted and vacuumed to remove the gravel and sediment causing the blockage
The sewer lines in the area were cleaned and inspected to ensure no additional blockages would occur from our cleanin
activities. Conductivity was monitored in Camp Branch and a temporary dam was installed downstream of the sewer spill.
De -chlorinated water (66,500 gallons) was used to flush and clean the stream. The sewer spill and flush water were pumr
back into the sanitary sewer system for disposal and treatment. The areas around the manholes that spilled were cleanee
up and powdered lime was applied to the ground and raked in to treat the soils.
As a representative for the responsible party, I certify that the information contained in this report is true and accurate to the
best of my knowledge.
Person submitting claim: Donald Bradley Smith
Signature:
Telephone Number: I tot ` 4, ? —.
Date: 06/15/22 11:15 am
a
Title k.,! c.'C'C' 1 C�1C
Any addition information desired to be submitted should be sent to the appropriate Division Regional Office within five days of f
knowledge of the SSO with reference to the incident number (the incident number is only generated when electronic entry of th
form is completed, if used).
CS-SSO Form Page: 3
Jere 1C. 2022
• On the c- enirg of .bane 9. 2022, Car; responded to a 2.91, 7-gallon se-.-,�-er
pi!; near Cary Oaks Drive.
• The Spill is the result of gravel and sediment accumulation folio,.-Jng sev,/er
iine ciean-ing performed in, the area in preparation for a planned Jre
-epair.
• The spill -oias cleaned up and de- chloFireated water oia s used to Push Camp
Branch- The spill, and flush -water viere pumped back into the se,.,.,er system
for disposal and treatment.
CARY NC — A sevirer spill in Cary occurred the evening of June 9. 2022 near
4100 Cary Oaks Drive, Cary staff responded, to tibe alert that cL-.me in ;?,round
526 p.m., and stopped Ime spill at &01 p.m The o, ' erall spil! voiurne,..-as 2.917
gaillons. f1c,.vedInto Camp Branch. Four fish 55vere affected b,; the sev.,e-
spili.
The spilltvas caused b, an accumulator of gra,.fe-1 and sediment that restricted
fiG`:j? in the se%-Ier line resulting in a backup and manhole overflcv.I. Sewer lines it
the area ivere cleaned earlier in the da;in preparat'cr,, for a planned se-.,ier lire
repair project. A temporary dam,,,,,,as installed in Camp Branch and de-ci-dor;nated
oaterv:as used to flush and clean LIP-- stream. The se,.-:er spill i.,-as cleaned Lip
and flush '.,. ater ?P!as pumped into the system for disposal and, trea!ment.
As required b,c additionw not;ficatiun has been made to the State Department
of Environmental Qual�Y- who -.-JR1 rev-e' tie incident.. North Carolina Gereraj
Statutes require public notce Im the form of a ne,.,:S release issued by'ofastevlater
utility ooemtors -within 24 hours, of the -detection of a ,-,faste%vater overn-,cv., of I C00
gallons or greater that also reaches surface Paid advertisements are also
necessary for spili's of 15.000 ga!ons or treater.
For rrcre or Cary's 990-Pius miles of -4ifaste---I,.!ate, pipeilnes cr information on
t:report a Se:y
er soilV visil or call 111 in 'a r,, o; 4579-
4000 frorr outside To,.;�,-n '.,;n-ris.
1: spe:--ific r,,ue-st.c-is ab-'XI-I 31
State of North Carolina
DWK
Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Division of Water Resources
Collection System Sanitary Sewer Overflow Reporting Form
Division of Water ResourcesCollection
CS-SSO
PART I:
This form shall be submitted to the appropriate DWQ Regional Office within. five business days of the first knowledge of the
sanitary sewer overflow (SSO).
Permit Number: WQCS00013 (WQCS# if active, otherwise use WQCSD#)
Facility: Cary Collection System Incident #: _ 202200983
Owner: Town of Cary
City: Cary County: Wake Region: Raleigh
Source of SSO (check applicable): Sanitary Sewer ® Pump Station / Lift Station
SPECIFIC location of the SSO (be consistent in description from past reports or documentation - i.e. Pump Station 6,
Manhole at Westall & Bragg Street, etc): 8921 Hoily Springs Rd, Apex, North Carolina, 27539 _
Manhole #: SP76011061
Latitude (Decimal Degrees): Longitude (Decimal Degrees):
Incident Started Dt: _ 06/22/2022 Time 11:30 am incident End Dt: 06/22/2022 Time: 01:02 pm
(mm-dd-yyyy) (hh:mm AM/PM) (mm-dd-yyyy) (hh:mm AM/PM)
Estimated Volume of the SSO: 3,759 gallons Estimated Duration (Round to nearest hour): 1:32 hours
Describe how the volume was determined: Sewer Spill Estimation Guide using spill area, observed flow, and creek condition
Weather conditions during the SSO event: Clear and sunny
Did SSO reach surface waters? (Z Yes 0 No ® Unknown Volume reaching surface waters (gals): 2076
Surface water name: Camp Branch
Did the SSO result in a fish kill? R1 Yes ❑ No ® Unknown If Yes, what is the estimated number of fish killed? 88
SPECIFIC cause(s) of the SSO:
[0 Debris in line
24 hour verbal notification (name of person contacted ): Eric S Rice
Z DWR ® Emergency Mgmt Date (mm-dd-yyy): 06/23/2022 Time (hh:mm AM/PM): _ 08:52:00 am
If an SSO is ongoing, please notify the appropriate Regional Office on a daily basis until SSO can be stopped.
Per G.S. 143-215.1 C(b), the responsible party of a discharge of 1,000 or more of untreated wastewater to surface waters
shall issue a press release within 24-hours of first knowledge to all print and electronic news media providing general
coverage in the county where the discharge occurred. When 15,000 gallons or more of untreated wastewater enters surface
waters, a public notice shall be published within 10 days and proof of publication shall be provided to the Division within 30
days. Refer to the reference statute for further detail.
The Director, Division of �iVater_Resources`mav take enforcement action for SSOs that are required to be rerJorted toDivision unless it is demonstrated that:
1) the discharge was cause by sever natural conditions and there were no feasible alternative to the discharge; or
2) the discharge was exceptional, unintentional, temporary and caused by factors beyond the reasonable control of the
Permittee and/or owner, and the discharge could not have been prevented by the exercise of reasonable control.
Part li must be completed to provide a justification claim for either of the above situations. This information will be the basis
WHETHER OR NOT PART 11113 Cti,AdiPt E t'EL7_ < 51Ci' A li'c' tS '� t ii9l s L feT THE END OF THIS FORM
CS-SSQ Form Page 1
PART 11:
ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS FOR EACH RELATED CAUSE CHECKED IN PART 1 OF THIS FORM AND
INCLUDE THE APPROPRIATE DOCUMENTATION AS REQUIRED OR DESIRED
COMPLETE ONLY THOSE SECTONS PERTAINING TO THE CAUSE OF THE SSO AS CHECKED IN PART I
(In the check boxes below, NA = Not Applicable and NE = Not Evaluated)
A HARDCOPY OF THIS FORM SHOULD BE SUBMITTED TO THE APPROPRIATE DWR REGIONAL OFFICE UNLESS IS
Debris in line
What type of debris has been found in the line?
A piece of concrete construction debris was lodged in the sewer line Concrete appeared to be a portion of a concrete plu
removed from a manhole.
Suspected cause or source of debris.
Past construction and connection of sewer line to sanitary sewer manhole
Are manholes in the area secure and intact? ® Yes No NA ❑ NE
When was the area last checked/cleaned?
12/1 /2021
Have cleaning and inspections ever been increased at this location due to previous Yes ® No F NA ❑ NE
problems with debris?
Explain:
No issues were identified in the past regarding obstructions abnormal sewer operation or construction debris in this sews
line segment.
Are appropriate educational materials being developed and distributed to prevent futi Yes ® No ❑ NA [:] NE
similar occurrences?
Comments:
No educational materials were distributed to customers due to construction debris being the cause of the blockage.
sty em Visitation
ORC ® Yes
Backup [] Yes
Name:
Donald B. Smith
Cert#
1001030
Date visited:
6/23/2022
Time visited:
5:00 PM
CS-SSO Form page 2
How was the SSO remediated (i.e. Stopped and cleaned up)?
A hydraulic iet was used to clear the blockage The concrete construction debris was intercepted and removed from the
sewer line. The sewer line was video inspected to ensure the blockage was completely cleared and all concrete pieces
were removed. A depression around the manhole that spilled allowed approximately 1 600 gallons to pond with the
remainder flowing to an unnamed tributary to Camp Branch. The ponded sewer was pumped back into the sewer system
disposal and treatment. Potable water was used to flush the ground and stream The sewer spill and cleanup resulted in
fish kill of 88 small minnows that were collected for disposal Debris was picked up and powdered lime was applied to the
around at the site of the sewer spill to treat the soil
As a representative for the responsible party, I certify that the information contained in this report is true and accurate to the
best of my knowledge.
Person submitting claim: Donald Bradley Smith Date: 06/27/22 12:15
Signature:
Telephone Number: 9 k ,;, -
Title
Any addition information desired to be submitted should be sent to the appropriate Division Regional Office within five days of f
knowledge of the SSO with reference to the incident number (the incident number is only generated when electronic entry of th
form is completed, if used).
CS-SSO Form Page: 3
June 23, 2022
Consti'uction Debris Causes Seer Spill in Carr
On the morning of June 22 2022. Cary responded to a 3,759-gallon sewer
spill near 8921 Holly Springs Road.
The spit: is the result of a piece of concrete construction debris lodged in the
sewer line.
A portion of the spill accumulated in a depression around the manhole that
spilled. -he accumulated sewage was pumped back into the sewer system
for disposal and treatment. The spill was cleaned up and the area flushed
with water.
CARY NC — A sewer spill in Cary occurred the morning of June 22, 2022
behind 8921 Holly Springs Road. Cary staff responded to the alert that came in
and 11.30 a.m. and stopped the spill at 1 02 p-m. The overall spill volume was
59 gallons, which flowed into an unnamed tributary to Camp Branch.
The spill was caused by a piece of concrete construction debris that restricted
flow in the sewer line resulting in a backup and manhole overflow. 11oproximately
1,600 of the 3,759 gallons accumulated in a depression around the manhole with
the remainder reaching the stream. The accumulation on the ground was pumped
back into the sewer system for disposal and treatment and the ground was
cleaned by flushing with water. The sewer spill and cleanup activities affected
around 80 small fish.
As required by law. additional notification has been made to the State Department
of Environmental Ouaiity., ti{rho Mil review the incident. North Carolina General
Statutes require public notice n the form of a news release issued by wastewater
utility operators within 24 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 spi-ls of 15,000 gallons or greater.
For more on Cary's 990-plus miles of wastewater pipelines or information on how
to report a sewer spill, visit or gall 311 in Cargo or 1919) 469-
4000 from outside Town Limits.
0
an's � to
z�
)u have specific questions about To.i services or operations, dial 311
anywhere in Cary. (919) 469-41000 outside town limits, or email
a