45,000 gallons of raw sewage spills near creek

CLEVELAND, N.C. (AP) - Officials in North Carolina say that corrosion in a pipeline led to 45,000 gallons of raw sewage spilling near a creek.

The Raleigh News & Observer reported that the sewage spilled on Tuesday into a low-lying area near Swift Creek in Johnston County. The creek eventually runs into the Neuse River.

A press release from Johnston County said the cause of the spill was a “pipeline material failure.”

The county recovered about 180,000 gallons of combined sewage and rainwater and pumped into the county’s wastewater treatment process.

Officials said the cause of the corrosion hasn’t been determined. The iron pipe will be replaced with PVC pipe.