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, July 15th, 2025 due to heavy sustained rainfall locally measuring approximately 4 inches over only a few hours period. 3,750 gallons are estimated to have spilled from the wastewater collection system from Manhole PC-1 located at 514 Lawrenceville Road in Gaston, NC. The untreated wastewater discharged into an adjacent storm ditch. An estimated total of 3,750 gallons of untreated wastewater, due to heavy sustained rainfall causing localized flash flooding and was locally measured at approximately 4 inches over only a few hours period, 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 into the wastewater collection system and minimize further discharge.

The NCDEQ Division of Water Resources was notified of the events on July 15th, 2025 and is reviewing the matter. 

For more information contact Roanoke Rapids Sanitary District at (252) 537-9137.