All discharges occurred Thursday, Oct. 11

SALUDA — The city of Saluda recently had a day full of sewage spills.

There were three sewage spills on the same day recently, totaling an estimated 112,220 gallons of sewage spilled into tributaries of the Broad River Basin.

On Thursday, Oct. 11, the city had an estimated 66,000 gallons of discharge spill at the Laurel Drive lift station, 28,220 gallons spill at a manhole near the intersection of Main Street and Cullipher Street, and another 18,000 gallons spill from the U.S. 176 lift station west of Saluda.

The city sent the Bulletin required notices of the spills on Wednesday, which is required by North Carolina General Statutes Article 21, Chapter 143.215C.

Saluda had a discharge of untreated wastewater of an estimated 66,000 gallons at the Laurel Drive lift station, located at 612 Laurel Drive, into an unnamed tributary of Cove Creek in the Broad River Basin.

The 66,000-gallon discharge occurred for approximately 10 hours, according to Saluda City Manager Jonathan Cannon.

“The lift station flooded and power was temporarily lost,” Cannon said. “Power was restored and flood waters receded.”

Another discharge occurred at Manhole G5-201805 located near the intersection of Main and Cullipher streets of 28,220 gallons. The untreated wastewater was discharged into Joel’s Creek in the Broad River Basin.

“The discharge occurred for approximately four hours,” Cannon said. “The manhole was cleared of debris and a bypass pump was used to prevent further discharge.”

Another occurred at the U.S. 176 lift station west of Saluda on U.S. 176 of approximately 18,000 gallons. The discharge occurred for approximately five hours, dumping untreated wastewater into an unnamed tributary of Camp Creek in the Broad River Basin.

“The lift station was overwhelmed by inflow from the storm water,” Cannon said. “A manhole was repaired to eliminate storm water inflow and the lift station pumps were able to catch up to the flow.”

Those with questions about the spills can call Cannon at 828-749-2581.