Tip from Yadkin Riverkeeper® Leads to EPA Criminal Investigation after Thomasville Officials Fail to Report 15 million gallon sewage spill
Posted: 09-14-2009 : THOMASVILLE, N.C.

Thomasville NC — An EPA criminal investigation prompted Thomasville officials to suddenly revise a sewage report, indicating 15.93 million gallons of raw sewage entered Hamby Creek which is part of the Yadkin/Pee Dee River Basin. Raw sewage poured into Hamby Creek for more than twenty days until it was discovered near Baptist Children’s Home Road. Hamby Creek empties into Abbott’s Creek and eventually High Rock Lake one of the state’s largest recreational lakes and a drinking water supply for the town of Salisbury. Thomasville Public Services Director Morgan Huffman initially reported a sewage spill of only 385,000 gallons to NC Division of Water Quality on Aug. 4 but amended the report Tuesday August 8th when EPA Criminal Investigations Division made an unannounced visit to review plant data.

EPA officials conducted their investigation based on a report they received from Yadkin Riverkeeper, Dean Naujoks on August 28th. Naujoks received a tip from a Thomasville plant operator who contacted Yadkin Riverkeeper to report plant officials had intentionally underreported the spill totals to the media. NC Law requires sewage spills over 1000 gallons be reported to the media to alert the public about potential health risks. EPA refuses to comment on the details of the investigation, but falsifying data can lead to criminal prosecution.

The spill first began on July 13 lasting through Aug. 4, when plant officials claim to have first discovered the spill. The spill resulted from a collapsed manhole cover after heavy rainfall on July 13th, but according to Huffman no one at the plant knew there was a problem at that time. Huffman used plant data from August 4th to initially determine 385,000 gallons entered Hamby Creek but it is unclear why plant officials did not look at the plant data prior to August 4th to determine a much larger sewage spill had occurred. When the Dispatch reported the amended spill on Tuesday, Huffman failed to mention EPA Criminal Investigations had spent several days reviewing plant data which led to the amended report.

Naujoks began his own investigation on Friday once it was clear the EPA had obtained Thomasville plant data for their investigation. Naujoks interviewed plant officials and made copies of the operator logs, flow meter data and the plant’s internal SCADA reports. “Someone is lying about what took place out here because it is clear from the plant’s own data people knew this spill was happening” said Naujoks. “A 15 million gallon sewage spill, larger than the Exxon Valdez oil spill, does not go undetected for 20 days straight without someone knowing it is happening.”

Plant operator logs from July 16th and again on July 25th clearly indicate operators reported flow coming into the plant had dropped significantly from an average of 2 million gallons a day (MGD) down to 1.2 MGD. The plants flow meters and SCADA also showed a significant drop in flow entering the plant which could only mean a rupture in the cities ageing sewage lines had occurred. Naujoks’ report to EPA also indicated plant employees allegedly reported the spill shortly after it occurred on July 13th but Public Utilities Director Huffman stated no one at the plant knew the spill occurred until August 4th.

“I am deeply alarmed about the lack of concern Thomasville officials are displaying regarding this spill. It is appalling to think recreational users at High Rock Lake were swimming in raw sewage for weeks. I hope the town of Salisbury who depends on High Rock Lake for drinking water and property owners who live on High Rock Lake contact Thomasville officials and demand an investigation as well as direct accountability for what happened” said Naujoks. High Rock Lake is already listed on the states 303d list for impaired waters as a result of nutrients and sediment pollution entering the lake.

EPA estimates more than 850 billion gallons of sewage are released into American rivers, lakes and coastal waters every year. Sewage contains disease pathogens, bacteria, toxins, nutrients and oxygen-depleting compounds causing algae blooms, fish kills and dead zones. Sewage also contains antibiotics, hormones and other prescription drugs that are entering drinking-water supplies.

Thomasville, like many local governments, have struggled to keep pace with development and a growing population. Aging sewer lines and outdated sewage-treatment plants are unable to accommodate additional capacity and become overwhelmed every time it rains. Unfortunately, political leaders in Thomasville and many municipalities fail to adequately invest in sewage infrastructure while giving developers a free pass on paying the true cost for clean water. Huffman told Naujoks the town of Trinity was allegedly overwhelming Thomasville’s sewage collection system and was going to recommend to Thomasville officials to remove Trinity from the Thomasville sewage system.

Naujoks told Huffman he would call for his resignation if the city did not immediately conduct an investigation to determine how the incident happened, who is responsible and what the city is going to do to address its failing sewage collection system. “It is unacceptable for plant officials to act as if this is not a big deal and nothing can really be done about it. This is one of the largest sewage spills we have seen in the state over the last ten years. There needs to be accountability for what happened. Thomasville political leaders must provide the necessary funding to rehabilitate leaking sewage lines, develop new collection system designs and commit to upgrading treatment standards or risk potential litigation” Naujoks said.

About the Yadkin Riverkeeper®:
The Yadkin Riverkeeper’s mission is to respect, protect and improve the Yadkin Pee Dee River Basin through education, advocacy and action. It is aimed at creating a clean and healthy river that sustains life and is cherished by its people. To achieve this vision, it seeks to accomplish the following objectives: sustain a RIVERKEEPER® program, measurably improve water quality, reestablish native bio-diversity, preserve and enhance the forest canopy, bring legal action to enforce state and federal environmental laws, and teach and practice a “river ethic” of ecological respect to all ages. For more information, visit http://www.yadkinriverkeeper.org or call 336-293-8105.

About Dean Naujoks:
Dean Naujoks is the Yadkin Riverkeeper, employed by Yadkin Riverkeeper Inc. since the fall of 2008 to manage and implement a river advocacy program for the Yadkin Pee Dee River watershed in North Carolina that will keep it a healthy and vibrant river for residents and businesses in the long term. Yadkin Riverkeeper is a licensed member of the Waterkeeper Alliance, which connects and supports local Waterkeeper programs to provide a voice and champion clean water for waterways and their communities worldwide. A longtime water quality advocate, Naujoks became the first Upper Neuse Riverkeeper in 2001 at the nonprofit Neuse River Foundation. In 2002, Naujoks worked with whistleblowers to uncover more than 20 environmental and labor law violations at Raleigh’s sewage treatment plant—the largest discharger to the Neuse River. According to Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker, “it was the Riverkeeper who alerted us to extensive problems which existed at our waste treatment plant, problems which had not been brought to our attention by then plant management.” Since 2003, Raleigh has invested more than $50 million in sewage plant upgrades and provided free drinking water to 32 families as a result of ground water contamination (over 1000 acres, the largest in the state) from the over application of sludge. A graduate of N.C. State, Naujoks created his own major in environmental policy and sustainable development. He also worked for the NC Wildlife Federation from 1991-1999. Naujoks has received American Rivers’ 2009 National “River Hero” Award on behalf of his efforts.

Media Contact:
Dean Naujoksv Yadkin Riverkeeper®v 2435 Westfield Ave.
Winston-Salem, N.C.
dean@yadkinriverkeeper.org
www.yadkinriverkeeper.org