Madison Park

City Statement on Second Illegal Dumping
Sunday, February 9, 2014   4:00 a.m.

Preliminary tests indicate that a second illegal dumping of hazardous materials containing PCBs may have occurred into Charlotte’s sewer system, this time into pipes that feed into Sugar Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant off Tyvola Road.

 

 

CMUD has shut down Sugar Creek plant’s operation and is diverting flow to an isolated containment basin on the plant site.

 

This latest incident was discovered around 8:45 p.m. Saturday, when employees at the Sugar Creek plant detected an unusual odor emanating from wastewater coming into the facility off Tyvola Road. Charlotte Fire Department Hazardous Material Team and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police responded immediately and remain at the scene. State water quality officials have been notified.

 

The developing situation is similar to an illegal dumping of toxic materials into the sewer system discovered earlier this week at the Mallard Creek wastewater plant, where cleanup operations continue.

 

At Sugar Creek, preliminary screening tests performed on the wastewater tonight suggest the potential for PCB contamination. Confirmation testing is under way, but results will take several hours.

CMUD crews have been mobilized and have begun to inspect sewer pipes upstream of the plant in order to locate the source of the problem.

 

As a precaution, the public is advised to refrain from human and animal contact with Sugar Creek until further notice.

 

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police ask the public to call CRIMESTOPPERS at 704-334-1600 with any information that could help in this investigation, and urge food service establishments to monitor their grease traps and ensure that any existing security cameras are fully operational.

 

If the public has any questions or concerns they should contact CharMeck 311 (dial 311 direct, or use 704-336-7600).

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utility Emergency Operations Center opened at 1 p.m. today to respond to two recent illegal chemical dumping incidents. On Sunday afternoon, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utility Department (CMUD) officially opened an Emergency Operations Center to respond to the illegal chemical dumping at Mallard Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant and Sugar Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant.

 
Creek access
As a precaution, the public is advised to refrain from human and animal contact with Sugar Creek / Little Sugar Creek (Tyvola Road downstream or south to Hwy51 or South Carolina border) until further notice.

As a precaution we are advising people to avoid human or animal contact with Mallard Creek and the Rocky River in Cabarrus County until more testing is completed. N.C. water quality officials are aware of the situation and we also are notifying downstream authorities to share this advisory with folks along Rocky River in Cabarrus, Union and Anson counties.

Sewer testing
Advanced testing has confirmed that the substance that entered the Sugar Creek Wastewater treatment plant does not contain PCB as originally suspected. Tests indicate that the substance flowing into Sugar Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant was ethanol, which is typical of a fuel spill. There appears to be no connection between the Sugar Creek and the Mallard Creek incidents. Staff of CMUD are on alert due to the Mallard Creek incident. The substance that entered Sugar Creek had similar characteristics, which led to the public notification at 4:00 a.m. Sunday morning. Testing continues at the Mallard Creek plant and shows continual fluctuations.

 

Drinking water
The city drinking water supply was not affected by the incidents at Sugar Creek or Mallard Creek treatment plants. Testing of the water processed for drinking has no PCBs detected. As a precaution, additional tests are being taken at all wastewater treatment plants and drinking water treatment plants. Test results take several hours. City officials continue to reiterate that drinking water is safe to drink, bathe and cook with. This incident did not affect drinking water in Mecklenburg County.

 

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department criminal investigation
Given the seriousness of this offense, The Mayor and City Manager have authorized the creation of a joint task force to investigate this incident. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department has joined forces with Local, State and Federal agencies in an effort to identify and prosecute those involved in this egregious criminal act.

 

Members of the task force include

• The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD);
• The Charlotte Fire Department (CFD);
• The Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division (EPACID);
• Charlotte Mecklenburg Utilities Department (CMUD); and
• North Carolina State Highway Patrol.

 

The extent of the offense for unlawfully dumping toxic chemicals can include both state and federal charges. The most serious of these charges would be a felony state charge of “dumping of toxic substance” and a felony Federal charge of “violation of the Clean Water Act.”

 

The public is asked to call CRIMESTOPPERS at 704-334-1600 if you have information that could lead to the apprehension of the person(s) responsible for the illegal dumping.

 

 

More information