CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A grease blockage is to blame for more than 1,000 pounds of wastewater to spill into McAlpine Creek Sunday.
According to Charlotte Water, its crews responded to the reported overflow in the Catawba River Watershed near where the creek intersects with Pineville-Matthews Road.
Crews determined a grease blockage caused the overflow near 6323 Woodleigh Oaks Drive.
“A majority of wastewater overflows can be prevented with your help,” Charlotte Water spokesperson Cam Coley said in a media release. “Anything put in plumbing or a manhole can cause wastewater overflows, spilling raw sewage into your street, your creek or even inside your own home. Even products labeled as ‘flushable’ do not breakdown in the sewer system and can contribute to clogging.”
Charlotte Water said there are things all Charlotte residents can do to try and prevent clogs in their own water lines, including the following:
- Make sure to throw things like paper towels, wipes, hair, cotton swabs, feminine products, dental floss, coffee grounds, and excess food in the trash.
- Only flush toilet paper.
- When it comes to the kitchen sink, only discard soap suds, small amounts of foods from plates, and liquids. Never fats, oils or grease. Those can be taken to a full-service recycling center.
If you think there's a sewage spill in your area, you should call 311 or 704-336-7600. Charlotte Water officials respond 24/7.
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