High Point wastewater spill sends 2,250 gallons into state waters

On Jan. 29, an estimated 2,250 gallons of untreated wastewater spilled at 408 Peace St. in High Point, reaching state waters. The spill, caused by grease, flowed into an unnamed tributary of Kennedy Mill Creek. The Division of Water Quality was notified on Jan. 30 and is currently reviewing the incident.

City officials did not provide detailed cleanup steps in the initial notice, but the report advised residents with questions to contact the Public Services Department at (336) 883-3215. At this stage there are no published water-quality measurements, no estimate of stream length affected and no announced enforcement actions tied to the High Point discharge.

The cause identified for the High Point spill was grease buildup, a common source of blockages and overflows in sewer collection systems. Grease-related events typically prompt internal inspections and maintenance to reduce repeat occurrences, but the available information does not specify who discovered the spill or which crews responded.

Separate municipal responses highlight the regulatory and environmental context for untreated discharges into surface waters. In a different incident, Nashville Town Manager Randy Lansing said the town’s public works department has taken action to mitigate the environmental harm that could have resulted from Sunday’s discharge of an estimated 2,250 gallons of untreated wastewater from the town’s sewer system. While a news release from the town on Tuesday stated that the untreated wastewater flowed into Stoney Creek, a tributary of the Tar River, Lansing said the flow didn’t extend to the creek bed. The lime applied to the path of the spill will effectively neutralize pathogens from the wastewater, he said. In terms of environmental and public health impact, Lansing said Sunday’s incident was relatively minor. The clean-up efforts were successful and have been concluded. The Division of Water Resources was notified of the event on Dec. 18 and is reviewing the matter, Nashville Public Works Director Lee Brown said in the news release.

State law requires public notification for sizable discharges. General Statute 143-215.1C requires that the owner or operator of any wastewater collection or treatment facilities issue a news release when an untreated wastewater discharge of 1,000 gallons or more reaches surface waters. Federal environmental authorities also warn of broader ecological risks: “Too much nitrogen and phosphorus in the water causes algae to grow faster than ecosystems can handle. Significant increases in algae harm water quality, food resources and habitats and decrease the oxygen that fish and other aquatic life need to survive,” a spokesman for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said.

For High Point residents, the immediate practical step is to contact the Public Services Department at (336) 883-3215 with questions or concerns. The North Carolina Division of Water Quality’s review will determine whether further sampling, remediation or follow-up public notices are required. Local crews and regulators now face the task of assessing downstream impacts on Kennedy Mill Creek and preventing a repeat of grease-related spills.