The quick take
Cary says there were zero reportable sewer spills from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025. That is good news for local creeks and lakes.
What went wrong
- North Cary plant: The state issued a notice after a toxicity screening did not pass in May 2025. Follow-up tests passed and the plant returned to compliance. In plain terms, the town had to prove the water leaving the plant was not harmful to aquatic life, and a retest showed it met the mark.
- Western Wake plant: The state issued a notice because the plant’s average phosphorus level for a summer month was too high. Extra phosphorus can feed algae downstream, so this is something to watch when hot weather returns.
- South Cary plant: No violations were reported for the year.
What went right
- No reportable spills were recorded during the year. That suggests routine cleaning, inspections, and repairs kept problems in check.
- The system kept up with demand and continued its streak of strong permit performance overall.
The scale of the system
- 7.44 billion gallons were collected and treated across 1,016 miles of sewer lines with 42 pump stations. The wastewater budget was about 32 million dollars.
- Residents used Cary 311 to report 667 wastewater issues or questions. Those reports help crews spot clogs, odors, and loose manhole covers before they become bigger problems.
- The town also picked up 1,566 gallons of used cooking oil for recycling.
Why it matters
Two state notices mean regulators flagged issues that needed attention, even in a year without reportable spills. One was a one-time toxicity screen at North Cary. The other was phosphorus at Western Wake during summer conditions when it is harder to control nutrients. Both are fixable, but both are important for water quality downstream.
You can read the full 15-page report here: https://townofcary.uberflip.com/i/1538671-cary-wastewater-report/0
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