McAlpine Creek got an unwelcome dose of sewage over the weekend, after roughly 1,550 gallons of untreated wastewater slipped into the waterway near Hunting Court and triggered a warning to nearby residents.
Charlotte Water crews traced the overflow to a familiar villain in the city’s sewer system: a greasy, wipe-filled clog in the collection lines. City staff urged neighbors to steer clear of the creek and to take disposal rules seriously to help keep future backups from bubbling up into local waterways.
What happened and what officials say
According to WSOC-TV, Charlotte Water crews were dispatched on March 14 to respond to the overflow near Hunting Court and worked to keep the release from moving farther into the Catawba River watershed.
Charlotte Water spokesperson Cam Coley told the station that “a majority of wastewater overflows can be prevented” if people keep non-sewage items out of their pipes. The utility pointed to some of the usual suspects behind blockages, including wipes, paper towels and cooking grease, which can all help trigger manhole or pipe overflows.
State notification rules
North Carolina law requires utilities to report any discharge of 1,000 gallons or more of untreated wastewater that reaches surface waters and to issue a press release within 24 hours, with additional newspaper notice required for very large releases, according to the North Carolina General Assembly.
The statute lays out when and how those public notices have to go out, all with the goal of keeping downstream communities and water suppliers in the loop about potential risks.
What residents should do
Charlotte Water is again reminding residents of the basics: flush only toilet paper, and keep everything else out of the toilet. That means paper towels, disposable wipes, hair, cotton swabs, feminine products and dental floss should all go in the trash, not the bowl.
The utility also warns against sending fats, oils and grease down the kitchen sink. Instead, residents are encouraged to take used or expired grease to a full-service recycling center rather than pouring it down drains. If you see or smell sewage or suspect an overflow, officials say to call 311 or 704-336-7600 to report it, per Charlotte Water.
How this fits into a bigger pattern
The Hunting Court spill is the latest in a run of overflows that have sent untreated wastewater into Charlotte-area creeks. Earlier this year, a 571,000-gallon Sugar Creek spill rattled southwest Charlotte, and in August 2025 a 1,850-gallon Briar Creek spill followed in east Charlotte.
Those incidents, like the McAlpine Creek overflow, highlight how often utilities cite grease, wipes and aging pipes as contributors. Officials say they will continue to post swim or water-use advisories when testing shows elevated bacteria levels in affected waterways.
