Water from the Abbotts Creek river basin that was tested after a recent sewage spill does not contain a dangerous amount of bacteria, according to the state.
The sewage spill took place in July and early August after a manhole collapsed in Thomasville.
Wastewater flowed into North Hamby Creek, which is part of the Yadkin/Pee Dee River Basin, and emptied into Abbotts Creek and High Rock Lake.
The city of Thomasville conducted water tests last weekend, using a laboratory facility that had been approved by the state, and turned the results over to the N.C. Department of Environment, Health & Natural Resources.
"The samples were below our fecal coliform standard," said Steve Mauney, an environmental engineer with the department.
"I don't see that there is a problem with (the water) at this point."
The acceptable standard according to the state is 200 colony forming units (CFUs) of bacteria per 100 milliliters of water in fresh water sources.
The highest count found in the samples was 108 CFU/ml, in a sample taken upstream from the N.C. 8 bridge, Mauney said, and the counts in other water ranged from 23 to 70.
"The tough thing here is, (the bacteria) also comes from animals, so any warm-blooded animal does have that bacteria present," Mauney said. "Particularly after a rainfall, you will see a rise in that number…. It can be the result of thousands of different sources of runoff."
Dean Naujoks, the Yadkin Riverkeeper, is calling on Thomasville officials to update the city's aging sewage infrastructure and improve its monitoring techniques.
He has also requested a public hearing to address concerns about the spill and its aftermath.
tclodfelter@wsjournal.com
336-727-7371
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