CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Catwaba River Keeper Sam Perkins said he started to investigate a possible sewage spill after a resident posted a photo from his backyard of Little Hope Creek on Sunday.
Perkins said, "When you see a creek that looks gray and milky, that’s indicative of a sewage spill."
Perkins found the source of the spill. He said sewage was coming from a manhole in a tributary tucked behind the Wildwood Apartments off Scaleybark Road.
Perkins said the sewage was flowing into Little Hope Creek at various points.
"This is a creek that runs through a very residential part of Charlotte and this is a great creek where kids can explore so, of course, concerned about kids," said Perkins.
Perkins said the leak was found before it could do real damage.
Discovered a Sunday sewage spill into a Little Hope Creek tributary (itself a Little Sugar trib). Authorities en route. If you smell something, seek it out and say something!
Posted by Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation on Sunday, August 12, 2018
In May, Mecklenburg County had the biggest spill in state history. In a period of 10 days, 15 million gallons of sewage ran into Long Creek before it reached the Catawba River.
[RELATED: 'No swim' advisory lifted week after 15.4 million gallon sewage spill]
"Sewage is going to spill and if it doesn't get noticed or reported, it will spill, in that case, 10 days," said Perkins.
The spill in south Charlotte was caught quickly. Charlotte Water said only 200 gallons spilled after debris clogged a pipe.
Charlotte Water said that sewage spills are actually down across the city.
From July 2016 to June 2017, there were 189 sewage spills. Between July 2017 to June 2018, that number dropped to 164.
[RELATED: Human waste from portable toilets pumped out of ditch behind PNC Music Pavilion]
Charlotte Water attributes some of the decrease to preventable maintenance, monitoring hot spots and root inhibitors.
Perkins said residents can help too.
"If you see something, if you smell something, go sniff it out a little bit," Perkins said.
Charlotte Water said crews unclogged the pipe Sunday. Crews will continue to monitor the area and flush water down the creek to minimize environmental impacts.
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