An estimated 168,620 gallons of untreated wastewater spilled into the Yadkin/Pee Dee River Basin from six separate locations in the city with the most occurring at the East Davidson Pump Station on Lake Road. Some 82,000 gallons of wastewater spilled into South Hamby Creek from that location. City Manager Kelly Craver said Thomasville was one of several municipalities that suffered similar spills from the heavy rains on Monday.
“There was a lot of localized flooding in the region,” Craver said. “The rain was very concentrated over a short period of time. I’ve seen estimates that Thomasville got as much as 3.5 inches of rain. That much water causes hydraulic failure.”
Other spills included 31,000 gallons from a manhole on King Row into a tributary of Jimmy’s Creek, 27,000 gallons from a Concord Street manhole into a tributary of North Hamby Creek, 18,000 gallons from a manhole on High Meadow Road into Jimmy’s Creek, 6,720 gallons from a manhole on Burke Trail Avenue into Flanks Branch and 3,900 gallons from a manhole at the intersection of Tremont and Franklin streets into a Hanks Branch tributary.
“This was highly unusual for us,” said Craver. “We had spills in every quadrant of the city. Sewer lines are often located close to creeks and water sometimes rises higher than manhole covers. This was pervasive.”
The General Assembly passed a 1999 law requiring municipalities, animal operations, industries and other waste-handling systems to issue news releases and reports to the north Carolina Division of Water Quality when a wastewater spill of 1,000 gallons or more reaches surface waters.
Craver said the city could be subject to a fine for the spills but added that the state takes heavy rain events into consideration before issuing any penalties.
Staff Writer Eliot Duke can be reached at 888-3578, or duke@tvilletimes.com.
You mean the "Yadkin River Keeper" (whatever that may be) isn't calling for the city to be fined, publicly castigated and horse-whipped yet? I'm amazed.
People need to understand that these things will happen in any sewer system. Kelly Craver is telling the truth. I know because a family member once upon a time installed water and sewer lines for a living, and I learned from him how waste disposal in the real world works.
It's unfortunate and yes, we do need to track it for public health reasons. However, unless the citizens of Thomasville are willing to pony up taxes at an astound rate, you'll never make the problem go away.
It's a pity that some folks don't seem to understand that.