Excavation Causes Sewer Spill at Town's Gold Park Construction Site

9/18/08 — As a result of contractor excavation at the Gold Park construction site, an estimated 12,546 gallons of untreated sewage discharged this month from the Dimmocks Mill Road gravity outfall in Hillsborough.

The Hillsborough Utilities Department estimates that 7,200 gallons of the untreated wastewater entered the Eno River Basin.

 

The break in the sewer main was reported to the town on Sept. 16. However, the line reportedly had been hit by the contractor on Sept. 5, the day before the effects of Tropical Storm Hannah in Hillsborough.

The contractor reported that the line was thought to be a pipe no longer in use because of the clearness and low volume of water flowing from the pipe.

Later, a small stream of clear water was noticed coming from the site. The contractor performed a test to determine whether the water was from an old water service or from a natural spring. On Sept. 15, the contractor noticed a smell and darkening of the stream.

 

The contractor notified the town on Sept. 16 and started to excavate the site again. It was determined that the pipe which was thought to have been abandoned was an in-service sewer main. The sewage immediately was pumped into a nearby sanitary sewer manhole.

The town has reported the sewer spill to the N.C. Division of Water Quality. Any fine that may be assessed will be passed on to the contractor.

Gold Park is the town’s first major park project. The 24-acre park will be the midpoint on the 1.5-mile Riverwalk, which will connect downtown Hillsborough to Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area. It is located on Dimmocks Mill Road near the railroad trestle.