Stolen manhole cover in Monroe leads to 1,500+ gallons of overflow into Richardson Creek

MONROE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — More than 1,500 gallons of overflow entered Richardson Creek after someone allegedly stole a manhole cover in Monroe, according to city officials.

Around 8:15 a.m. on Thursday, August 14, a customer reported the overflow, and crews responded to the missing manhole cover and sanitary sewer spill on Ridgewood Drive. When they arrived, they saw the 50-plus-pound cast-iron cover missing debris blocking the line.

City crews replaced the cover, cleared the blockage and stopped the spill. The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) was notified as required for untreated wastewater discharge of more than 1,000 gallons.

Officials said the vandalism caused roughly 1,545 gallons of overflow, much of it stormwater, to enter a small tributary of Richardson Creek.

Thankfully, this did not pose a public health risk, and it does not impact Monroe’s drinking water system.

“Events of this nature can happen in periods of heavy rainfall, even without the vandalism involved. The reporting is required by state law as part of ongoing transparency and environmental oversight,” city officials said.

City officials did not say if they found the stolen manhole cover or the person who stole it.

Anyone who sees missing or tampered manhole covers is urged to call Water Resources at 704-282-4601.