MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N.C. — For two days Charlotte Water failed to notify Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services officials of the discharge of partially treated wastewater into Mountain Island Lake, county officials said Tuesday.
The failure delayed officials from establishing a no-swimming advisory in a popular cove.
A Charlotte Water representative told Channel 9 a plant manager left the county a message on Saturday.
"The County has since provided a better contact number for after-hours emergencies to us," said Jennifer Frost, a spokesperson for Charlotte Water.
The discharge happened Saturday night at the McDowell Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant. Storms caused a power outage and backup generators failed to kick in causing 58,000 gallons of treated, but not yet fully disinfected, water to enter the McDowell Creek Cove.
Mecklenburg County did not send out a new release about the no-swimming advisory until Monday afternoon.
"Charlotte Water failed to notify us on Saturday," said Rusty Rozzelle, water quality program manager for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services. "If they had, we would have issued the release on Saturday."
On Wednesday, county leaders announced that the no swimming advisory had been lifted. Water samples collected in the cove by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services' staff revealed that bacteria counts are within safe limits.
Officials said there was no affect on drinking water.
"We have expressed our concern and they have indicated in the future they would notify our on-call staff person," Rozzelle said.
In the meantime, people who live on the cove were swimming in the cove until the no-swimming advisory was issued.
"I just heard about it this morning from my wife who got a text from a neighbor who said he went out there to those buoys," resident Greg Lance said.
Lance said they later figured out what was happening by looking up the advisory on the internet.
"My daughter and son were swimming (Monday) out there," Lance said. "Communication is lacking, for sure. I'm not happy about it."
Rozzelle said Charlotte Water would be responsible for notifying adjoining property owners.
"We work closely with the county and state and it is my understanding that the swim advisory was issued in an abundance of caution as per the county's usual practice when any kind of discharge spills to recreational surface waters," Frost said.
Frost sent the below email explaining the situation:
Charlotte Water followed all regulations for spill notifications. The severe storms Saturday evening created a power outage at McDowell Wastewater Treatment Plant. When the UV system did not have power, what is known as a partially-treated wastewater discharge occurred. In actuality, the 58,000 gallons that spilled in the 20 minute timeframe before the generators were able to supply power again was significantly treated having already gone through 5 different treatment processes before the UV stage. The amount spilled represents approximately 1% of the total wastewater treated in a day at McDowell.
Due to the significant treatment the discharge received, the media notification is not required by State regulation. However, Charlotte Water's practice is to notify the media and others when spills like this one occur regardless of our requirement. Swim advisories are issued by the County.
We work closely with the county and state and it is my understanding that the swim advisory was issued in an abundance of caution as per the County's usual practice when any kind of discharge spills to recreational surface waters.
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