2024 Sewer Spill Report

From the Riverkeeper:

“Every year for the last twelve years we've published an annual sewer spill report for Congaree Riverkeeper's jurisdictional area. In 2024 there were more than one hundred reported sanitary sewer overflows totaling well over a million gallons of sewage spilled in our watershed.

Sewer overflows can contaminate waterways and impact water quality, creating both ecological and public health issues. River users who are exposed to sewer overflows may experience health problems including infections, rashes, and gastrointestinal issues.

Many of the spills occurred during the two hurricanes we experiences this year, Debby and Helene. Unfortunately, it is difficult to identify spills (and certainly to estimate volumes) during flood events, so we don't know the total volume of sewage spilled, but it was well over the million gallons officially reported. The sewer spill hotspots for 2024, areas that experienced multiple large spills, included the Broad River, the Lower Saluda River, Gills Creek, and Reeder Point Branch.

Sewer spills continue to be a serious issue facing our local waterways, and local sewer providers must continue to make significant investments in maintence and upgrades to the sewer collection systems and treatment plants to reduce spills and protect our rivers.”