Gravel and debris combined to block a portion of the Town of Cary's sanitary sewer system resulting in a spill discovered on Sunday, Nov. 23 at 6:30 p.m. near the 100 block of Marcom Drive in Morrisville.

An estimated 3,499 gallons of untreated waste escaped from a manhole and reached an unknown tributary of Crabtree Creek.

Clean up was performed by building a dam, flushing the creek with dechlorinated water, and pumping the flushing water back to the collection system.

No fish kill has been observed.

The Clean Water Act requires public notice in the form of a news release issued by public works operators within 48 hours of the detection of a wastewater overflow of 1,000 gallons or greater that also reaches surface waters.

Paid advertisements are also necessary for spills in excess of 14,999 gallons.