Several septic companies are accused of illegally dumping sewage that could've crippled the entire sewer system in Rocky Mount, though the investigation spans into Franklin County.
The investigation started at the beginning of January when someone tipped off Rocky Mount Police about sludge dumped into the back lot of the old 84 Lumber Building on Route 40. Soon after, there was another case. Police arrested the owner of A+ Septic. He is accused of dumping as many as 2,500 hundred gallons of sewage next to New Hope United Methodist Church on Old Forge Road. Both dumps sites are near water.
Aside from this, investigators suspect septic hauling companies have also been popping open manholes and dumping sewage in there. The sewage department tells them pH levels in the past five months have been higher than they've been in the last decade. That sludge from the manholes flows into the town's sewer system and could eventually effect everyone who relies on it.
"The sewage is coming from the homes, it goes to the sewage treatment system. It could potentially back up for everybody," says Marvin Woods with the Franklin County Department of Public Safety.
Rocky Mount police believe more than two companies from this area are illegally dumping waste and they expect to charge more people. Currently several local agencies, as well as federal authorities and the Department of Environmental Quality are working this investigation.
Testing the water supply for the Town is ongoing.
