BRUNSWICK COUNTY — Brunswick County has reported its sixth wastewater spill in a four-month period.
Since April, Brunswick County has spilled an estimated combined 360,000 gallons of wastewater into public surface waters. All spills have occurred in southern Brunswick County.
Related: Two Brunswick County untreated wastewater discharges send upward of 22,000 gallons into waterways
Of the six spills, five were caused by mechanical or physical failures tied to county sewer infrastructure. One was caused by a utility contractor who inadvertently struck a force main, causing 30,000 gallons of wastewater to reach a tributary of Persimmon Swamp and a golf course pond in Carolina Shores.
Wednesday’s spill was caused by a failed bell joint in a force main. An estimated 150,000 to 170,000 gallons of wastewater spilled into the Shallotte River at the Ocean Isle Beach Road crossing. The force main was repaired and put back into service by 10:40 a.m. Wednesday.
View a summary of recent spills below:
- July 8 — Between 150,000 and 170,000 gallons spilled, reaching Shallotte River
- June 12 — Between 10,000 and 15,000 gallons spilled, reaching the Calabash River
- June 12 — Between 5,500 and 7,000 gallons spilled, reaching a tributary of Williams Branch
- May 25 — 125,000 gallons spilled, reaching a tributary of Jinny’s Branch
- May 20 — 30,000 gallons spilled, reaching a tributary of Persimmon Swamp and a Carolina Shores golf course pond
- April 3 — 29,000 gallons spilled, reaching the Calabash River
