About 200,000 gallons of untreated wastewater spilled from a manhole and made its way into a small tributary that feeds Richland Creek outside Waynesville last week. 

The sewer overflow began during a period of intense rainfall at about 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 22, and lasted about 28 hours, ending when the rain and stream flows subsided. The overflow emanated from a sewer manhole at the county fairgrounds off N.C. 209.   

The affected areas were cleaned and limed, according to a notice sent out by the town as required by state statute in the event of untreated sewer spills.

The rainfall total for the period was 4.3 inches. Waynesville Public Works Director Fred Baker said maintenance activities and sewer system rehabilitation are being performed to identify and correct infiltration and inflow sources connected to the sewer system to prevent overflows in the event of future heavy rains.  

828.456.4410.