On Friday, town leaders talked about the flooding of River Pump Station, which caused most of the town's raw sewage to spill into the Eno River. Town leaders said 10 inches of rain during a short time caused widespread flooding and damage to the Wastewater Treatment Plant. Extensive flooding at its sewer pumping station caused 75% of the town's raw sewage to spill into the Eno River.
WATCH | Full news conference by Town officials
Hillsborough leaders give update on effects of Tropical Storm Chantal
"There is raw sewage. The ground water that entered the pipes as well as rain water and river water," said Hillsborough Utilities Manager Marie Strandwitz. "Our water plant is not online right now."
Although the town's Boil Water Notice has been lifted, people are urged to conserve water because of a limited supply and ongoing sewer overflow at the River Pump Station.
Town leaders estimate replacing pumps, motors and electrical could cost at least $220,000. This storm even caused major damage to public works equipment.
"We lost our operations building, office trailer, and a third of all public works equipment that allows us to provide solid waste street service," said Hillsborough Town Manager Eric Peterson.
Residents who spoke with ABC11 didn't experience flooding at their homes, but they saw sewage in the river.
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"No one should be in the river. No doggies. No people. All people's things that are in the flood plain, like BBQ grills that got picked up and moved, hose things need to be decontaminated," said one woman.
Mayor Mark Bell said the town recently lost a $6.8 million FEMA grant that he said would have helped relocate the river pump station out of a floodplain.
"Tropical Storm Chantal has taken it offline again, and it's preventing us from effectively treating our wastewater," Bell said.
Town leaders said water is safe to drink, and the City of Durham is supplying the town with water. They also recommended that people in town limit all activities that require using water including showers. Water tanks have been cleared out and sanitized and the city is waiting for bacteria test results to come back. Once that happens, they will be able to get the water treatment plant back online.
Floodwaters also reached Gold Park and the Riverwalk greenway as town leaders said water levels were as high as six feet. All bridges and boardwalks along the riverwalk will have to be checked.
"We're making sure structurally they are OK. We're already coordinating repairs. It's going to be weeks before we will get those facilities back online," said Peterson.