Now the water has started to recede, the flood clean up can begin in North and South Carolina. The area was hit by flash floods from Friday 8 August 2014 where two people died. The floods were a result of torrential rainfall similar to that seen in eastern and northern states over the last few days.
Yesterday a statement from North Carolina Division of Water Resources reported that the recent flooding in Raleigh and the triangle area (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and the cities that surround them ) has contaminated the local river system.
The division issued warnings for people to use caution when near rivers and lakes in the recently flood hit areas. The flooding spilled over 180,000 gallons of untreated or partially treated sewage into local creeks and rivers.
Local newspaper, The New Observer says that, according to the Division of Water Resources:
- 33,000 gallons of untreated sewage overflowed into Crabtree Creek, Walnut Creek and Wildcat Branch
- 100,000 gallons of partially treated sewage spilled into Robeson Creek in Pittsboro
- 13,000 gallons into Middle Creek and Terrible Creek in Fuquay-Varina
- 24,000 gallons into Northeast Creek and the Eno River in Durham
- 13,000 gallons into Bawdy Swamp in Selma
The Division of Water Resources offers the following advice:
- Boaters and swimmers should stay out of areas if they see discolored water or dead fish.
- People who feel sick or have open wounds or skin rashes should limit contact with water in rivers, lakes and other natural water bodies.
- People who swim in rivers or lakes or have contact with the water should wash with soap and clean water soon afterwards.
