The Lincoln County Health Director issued a Water Activity Advisory on May 5, following a spill of approximately 850 gallons of untreated sewage into an unnamed tributary near Crosscut Drive in Denver. The advisory was announced at 5:00 pm and affects the area surrounding the incident.
The advisory is important because untreated sewage can contaminate water sources with fecal coliform, which poses health risks to residents engaging in recreational activities. The Health Director said that all residents should avoid any water activities involving bodily contact with the affected area until further notice.
According to officials, the spill was caused by a basketball that clogged a manhole located at the right of way in front of the 200 block of Crosscut Drive. In response, the Killian Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant has begun taking water samples and posting warning signs around the site. Results from these samples will be sent to the County Public Utilities Department, which will then notify the Health Department about when it is safe for public use again.
Residents are advised that normal activities may resume only once sample results indicate fecal coliform counts are within acceptable risk levels as defined by state guidelines from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality.
In related community updates, data shows that among Lincoln County school districts during the 2022-23 school year, between one-quarter and two-fifths of junior and senior students met college readiness benchmarks on ACT exams for science, reading, and math according to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.
