CHARLOTTE, NC — Illegal chemicals, dumped into a Charlotte creek, turning the water a milky white.
A concerned citizen called Storm Water Services about the spill, and then she called WCCB Charlotte to investigate the impact.
Residents are concerned about environmental damage and the cost of the cleanup. The woman who called in the complaint is talking exclusively to WCCB, leading us to the surprising source of the spill.
“I noticed that the creek was white, the color of white paint,” says Jennifer Mentas.
This is what Jennifer saw: the creek that runs through the Raintree Golf Course looked like milk on Monday.
It was clear again the next day, but by Wednesday…
“It was white again, and I called storm water and reported a potential spill,” says Mentas. “Wanted to know what was going on.”
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services came out to investigate, following the stream of white all the way to Charlotte Latin School.
That’s where they say a contractor resurfacing the school’s track was dumping a significant amount of a chemical compound used to seal the work into the storm drains.
“Somehow that material entered the storm system, and was discharged to the creek, and caused a milky discoloration for several miles,” says Storm Water Services Environmental Supervisor John McCulloch.
The county hired an environmental cleanup crew. Thousands of gallons of water were pumped from the creek, and will have to be treated and disposed of. The cost could be tens of thousands of dollars.
Charlotte Latin sent a statement to the Raintree Homeowners Association saying:
“The spilled substance was not toxic”… and “…we sincerely apologize for any concerns or inconvenience…”
Precision Sports Surfaces Incorporated out of Charlottesville, Virgina will be charged with violating the Charlotte Storm Water Ordinance. The company is responsible for the cost of the cleanup, and fines as high as $5,000 per day.
“Through our monitoring of the stream, we have not detected negative impacts to the creek other than aesthetics,” says McCulloch.
“I want to see the proof. People can say whatever they want, but I’d like to know 100 percent that everything is safe,” says Mentas.
Storm Water Services says they will be monitoring the creek daily until the water is clear again, and tests show all the contaminants are gone.
