Line technicians from ONWASA were immediately dispatched to the area and located a manhole leaking along W Corbett Avenue near Shore Drive.
It was later determined that a buried fitting which was part of the original Town of Swansboro sewer system had blown off. This discharged untreated sewer water into a ditch that leads to Ward Creek. ONWASA crews and contractors were immediately dispatched to repair the damage. Repairs were completed by 4:00 pm. Field supervisors estimate that the broken main discharged approximately 40 gallons per minute, placing the known spill at around 31,560 gallons.
ONWASA has reported the incident and spill to the State of North Carolina Division of Water Quality as well as the Town of Swansboro. ONWASA has begun cleanup operations including removal of all accessible sewer from the area and will follow all State requirements regarding further cleanup, sampling, and notifications.
This afternoon, State recreational water quality officials issued a precautionary advisory warning the public against swimming along the waterfront in Swansboro between the White Oak River Bridge and the Intracoastal Waterway beacon #49. The advisory is due to public health risks from the sewer discharge.
