Sewer emergency impacting vacuum sewer customers. This is an ongoing emergency, and more updates will be provided as new information becomes available.
Please excuse any inconveniences. To view general information about the City of Locust Public Works Department wastewater resources, visit: https://locustnc.com/wastewater/
January 14th, 10:30 AM Update: As of 8:00pm on Saturday 1/13, we are pleased to report that the Meadow Creek Vacuum Station is back to fully automated operation.
January 14th, 10:30 AM Update: As of 8:00pm on Saturday 1/13, we are pleased to report that the Meadow Creek Vacuum Station is back to fully automated operation.
Public Works staff will continue working with contractors and engineers towards a permanent repair and replacement of the damaged control panel.
We would like to take a moment to express our appreciation for everyone’s understanding and cooperation. Thank you to the staff and contractors for their diligent effort around the clock. And thank you to our neighboring City of Albemarle for their assistance.
January 13th, 9:00 AM Update:
Important Sewer Update:
Public Works and contractors have been able to re-establish pressure in the vacuum system, and it’s currently in stable condition. However, the system is still operating manually as we continue to implement a temporary control system that will allow the system to operate automatically.
Public Works staff is scheduled to work around the clock through the weekend and Martin Luther King holiday to manually operate the station while contractors assist in assembling a temporary control system.
Residents and businesses may resume normal operations at this time.
Please continue to be on the lookout for updates as we continue to restore normal operations.
Thank you for your patience and continuous cooperation.
January 12th, 4:45 PM Update: Public Works staff and contractors continue to work around the clock to restore service to the Meadow Creek Vacuum Station. Staff and crews are scheduled to work overnight to ensure the integrity of the station as repairs continue. At this time, a number of components within the station have been replaced. Staff and contractors continue to make progress towards automatic operation of the station. Unfortunately weather does not help the situation , and we continue to ask for conservative use of toilets, showers and sinks to limit the strain on the system. Thank you for your continuous cooperation and patience as we continue to work towards resolving this issue.
January 11th updates:
9:45 PM Update: As of 9:45pm on Thursday 1/11 Public Works staff is able to manually operate the Meadow Creek Vacuum Station. Full service is not yet restored. However, residents may resume use of bathrooms, showers and sinks. We ask that you please continue to be conservative with the amount of water you discharge as we continue to re-establish the pressure of the system. Businesses will be able to resume services to the community starting 9am on Friday 1/12. We will continue to update the public until the situation is resolved, and normal sewer service operations are restored. Thanks again for your cooperation during this emergency.
4:30 PM Update: Locust Public Works and private contractors continue to work on the Meadow Creek Vacuum Station. They are expected to continue working overnight until the station is operational. At this time various system and station components have been tested to ensure they remain operational following the electrical fire. Contractors continue to pump and haul sewage waste from the stations wet well. However, the vacuum component remains inoperable. Public Works and contractors are optimistic that the system could be brought up online in the upcoming hours, but with limited capacity. As of 4:30pm on Thursday 1/11, the station remains inoperable. Crews continue to work diligently, and the public will continue to receive updates as additional information becomes available. (Photo added below, showing scorched control panel in the Meadow Creek Church vacuum station.)
Affected users should continue to limit use of toilets and showers and avoid laundry, dishes, and other non-essential use of water.
You can expect to have limited use of these items until the issue is resolved.
We expect it to be semi-operational within hours, allowing for continued limited use.
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9:20 AM Update: We have created a map (below) with highlighted areas showing home and businesses affected. It is in the comments below and on our website: www.locustnc.com
8:20 AM Update: We’ve received an update: Areas Impacted by The Outage: Sewer users on W. Main St. ( from Ray Kennedy to Meadow Creek Church Rd), some portions of Church St., and Simpson Rd,
all users on Meadow Creek Church Rd and all its tributaries up to the vacuum station, Barbara Ann Park & Hickory Ridge, Western Hills, and users on 200N up to Locust Valley
7:30 AM: Earlier this morning Public Works staff received notification of a power outage from Meadow Creek Vacuum Station. It appears that an electrical fire caused damage to the electrical control panel, and the station is down indefinitely. Public Works staff, and private contractors are on site/route to assist.
Please refrain from using showers, sinks and toilets as much as possible.
Map of affected home and businesses:
