Hurricane floods mix 3.2M gallons of wastewater with creek

An official at a water utility company in North Carolina says Hurricane Florence’s floodwaters caused 3.2 million gallons of partially-treated wastewater to mix with a creek.

The Daily News of Jacksonville reports the Onslow Sewer and Water Authority says the storm’s rainfall caused water in the Northwest Regional Water Reclamation Facility in Richlands to rise several feet.

CEO Jeff Hudson says the water “devastated” the plant and fried electrical units used to control and perform the water treatment process. He says the partially-treated wastewater then mixed with floodwaters before draining into Cowhorn Swamp.

Hudson says none of the hazardous chemicals at the plant were mixed with the creek. He says it’s unclear how long repairs will take, and the company is seeking funds to protect the plant against future floods.