General Statute 143.215.1C requires that the owner or operator of any wastewater collection or treatment works issue a press release when an untreated wastewater discharge of 1,000 gallons or more reaches surface waters.  

In accordance with the regulation, the following news release has been prepared and issued to media in the affected county:

Roanoke Rapids Sanitary District had one wastewater spill on Tuesday, January 9, 2024 due to Winter Storm Finn. During this instance, 16,250 gallons are estimated to have spilled from the wastewater collection system from Manhole A-54; in sub-basin ‘A’, located near Land St. and Laurel St. in Roanoke Rapids, NC. An estimated total of 16,250 gallons of untreated wastewater, due to heavy sustained rainfall and antecedent wet weather conditions, spilled into the waters of the state tributary to the Roanoke River in the Roanoke River Basin.  

Preparations are being made for all known repairs necessary to reduce the sources of inflow and infiltration to the wastewater collection system and minimize further discharge.

The Division of Water Resources was notified of the event on January 10, 2024 and is reviewing the matter.