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 two wastewater spills on Wednesday, December 27 2023 due to heavy sustained rainfall. 

During this instance, 30,000 gallons are estimated to have spilled from the wastewater collection system from Manhole A-54; an isolated manhole in sub-basin ‘A’, located near Land St. and Laurel St. in Roanoke Rapids, NC. 1,500 gallons are estimated to have spilled from the wastewater collection system from Manhole D-190; located at E. 7th St. between Raleigh St. and Virginia St. in Roanoke Rapids, NC. 

The untreated wastewater discharged to an adjacent storm drain. An estimated total of 31,500 gallons of untreated wastewater, due to heavy sustained rainfall, 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 events on December 27, 2023 and is reviewing the matter.