Florence's police cabin pump station on McIver Road near the Darlington County line overflowed Wednesday at a manhole upstream of the pump station, according to a press release from the city.
An operator who responded determined the pump station was operating, but not at full capacity. After pulling the pumps, a large quantity of rags and other debris — which had been improperly discharged into the sewer system — were removed. The pumps were cleared and by 6:45 p.m. that day, the overflow stopped, according to the release.
It is estimated that 39,000 gallons of sewage were discharged from the manhole and flowed into Black Creek. City crews cleaned visible solids at the overflow site and used lime to disinfect the affected area. Water samples were taken from Black Creek and are being analyzed to document there was no threat to public health or the environment, city officials said.
The city of Florence sewer use ordinance prohibits the discharge of rags, large solids and any other wastes that are detrimental to the operation of the city’s sewers, pumps or treatment units. These prohibitions apply to residences as well as businesses and industries.
Violators are subject to fines and having their water and sewer connections discontinued by the city. In addition, those who misuse the sewer system in this manner bear the responsibility for direct discharges of wastewater to the area’s streams and creeks.
The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control requires the city notify the public in cases where the overflow is more than 5,000 gallons.
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