Butner, NC. February 25, 2025 - The South Granville Water and Sewer Authority was featured in a consumer investigation report on a WRAL 5 On Your Side, February 24, 2025. The report discussed a sewer backup incident that occurred within a resident's home, and was found to be caused by debris obstructing the sewer system, in the absence of a required backflow preventer.
The Authority's Official Statement: The sewer system was clogged as a result of debris stuffed into the sewer. The clogged sewer system prevented normal downstream sewer flow. The sewer flow backed upstream into the sewer system throughout the area. During the sewer back up caused by the debris (vandalism), Ms. Little’s home was flooded with sewage. A sewer maintenance company was called on site to unclog the sewer line for SGWASA because SGWASA’s sewer jet equipment could not break through the clog.
The sewer jetting action occurred many hours after the initial blockage of the sewer line and the resulting backup. A cause of the backup into Ms. Little’s home, however, is also the fact that the sewer lateral coming from her home (the customer’s responsibility) to the SGWASA main sewer line was installed at an elevation that was too low. A number of houses were closer to the blockage than her home. None of those homes had a backup event, because they do not have a too-low connection to the main sewer line.
Page 5 Excerpt from the Sewer Specifications File found in the public Technical Information Library on the official website
C. Sewage Backflow Policy The North Carolina Plumbing Code deals with fixtures and drains subject to backflow. This Code states that the traps shall be installed with an elevation at least one foot higher than the manhole top upstream from the property. If not, the property must have a back water valve on the sewer service to protect against backflow No claims shall be made against the Authority for failure in the Authority’s water or sewer system.
The Authority has taken proactive steps to aid Ms. Little by installing the necessary backflow preventer, normally being the responsibility of the homeowner. Following a thorough investigation by SGWASA's Board, legal, utility, and executive teams, the Authority worked with the appropriate agencies to support the resident.
Information is shared with the public as it is made available to Authority officials for release. View the meeting video, information, and incident file within the links below.
Please report any utility emergencies using the contact information provided via sgwasa.org/emergency.
Issued 2/25/25 by the South Granville Water and Sewer Authority
Krystle Lee, PIO/Board Secretary/Webmaster
(919) 575-3367