North Carolina / Sewer operators /
Town of Columbus
Sewer utility · North Carolina · Columbus
Map sources: water outlines and launches from OpenBoatLaunch and OpenStreetMap contributors (Open Database License); wastewater outlets from EPA and state records; downstream estimates by DirtyWaterWatch using U.S. Geological Survey maps and flow data. Base map: OpenFreeMap and OpenMapTiles.
Ringed dots mark treatment plant outfalls. Small hollow diamonds mark places named in its overflow reports (provisional).
- Federal wastewater discharge permit (NPDES)
- NC0021369, WQCS00140
- Wastewater outlets
- 1 treatment plant outfall listed by EPA or state agencies; 2 places named in its own overflow reports (provisional locations) · List
- Waters listed as receiving wastewater
- Whiteoak Creek
- Tracked waters
- none
- Discharge records counted
- 2 records · latest
- Total reported volume in these records
- 1,000 gallons across the 2 records that give a volume
These totals reflect the records we track. Missing volumes and gaps in reporting limit comparisons between operators.
Sources: EPA ECHO and the operator and state sources linked below. Counts use the discharge records on this page. Updated 2026-11-05 01:25 UTC.
Public notices and alerts
We do not list an alert service for this operator yet. Check its website.
Its public-notice channels
- Operator's notice page · Required by law
Annual performance report not read
G.S. 143-215.1C(a): "The owner or operator of any wastewater collection or treatment works, the operation of which is primarily to collect or treat municipal or domestic wastewater and for which a permit is issued under this Part and having an average annual flow greater than 200,000 gallons per day, shall provide to the users or customers of the collection system or treatment works and to the Department an annual report that summarizes the performance of the collection system or treatment works and the extent to which the collection system or treatment works has violated the permit or federal or State laws, regulations, or rules related to the protection of water quality. The report shall be prepared on either a calendar or fiscal year basis and shall be provided no later than 60 days after the end of the calendar or fiscal year."
- News page · Required by law
Printed or broadcast notice not read
G.S. 143-215.1C(b)(2): "In the event of a discharge of 15,000 gallons or more of untreated wastewater to the surface waters of the State, publish a notice of the discharge in a newspaper having general circulation in the county in which the discharge occurs and in each county downstream from the point of discharge that is significantly affected by the discharge." The notice is captioned "NOTICE OF DISCHARGE OF UNTREATED SEWAGE" and published within 10 days after the Secretary approves its form, content and newspapers
- News page · Required by law
Printed or broadcast notice not read
G.S. 143-215.1C(b)(1): "In the event of a discharge of 1,000 gallons or more of untreated wastewater to the surface waters of the State, issue a press release to all print and electronic news media that provide general coverage in the county where the discharge occurred setting out the details of the discharge. The owner or operator shall issue the press release within 24 hours after the owner or operator has determined that the discharge has reached the surface waters of the State."
Source: Town of Columbus's public notice and alert pages and the state's notification records; DirtyWaterWatch register of public-notice channels and its page monitor.
Report a missing notice or error
Wastewater outlets
Outfall: a pipe or outlet where wastewater enters a water body.
1 treatment plant outfall listed by EPA or state agencies; 2 places named in its own overflow reports (provisional locations).
Treatment plant outfalls
1 outfall · 1 with no published location
- Outfall 001 · receiving water in the permit: Whiteoak Creek · no water record yet · status not published · location not published
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) permit records (ICIS-NPDES permitted features): where a treatment plant’s permitted discharge leaves. No national source says whether a plant outfall is open or closed.
Places named in overflow reports (provisional)
2 places · 1 not on the map (reports say the sewage reached no water)
Provisional location from overflow reports. Where the operator's own reports put an overflow: a manhole, pump station or plant. Not an outfall listed in a permit.
- Reported place · 1 overflow report, latest Jun 23, 2026 · confidence medium · no water record yet · not on the map: its reports say the sewage did not reach a water
- Reported place · 1 overflow report, latest May 28, 2026 · confidence medium · no water record yet
Source: the operator's own overflow reports to the state. DirtyWaterWatch groups reports within 50 metres into one place and finds the water below it with U.S. Geological Survey river maps (NLDI, NHDPlus). Not a permitted outfall; provisional until an official outfall record exists.
Reports and advisories
Sanitary sewer overflow (SSO): sewage spills from a sewer meant to carry sewage separately from rainwater.
| When | Report | Status |
|---|---|---|
| to 8:30 AM | Water not mapped · 831 West Mills Street, Columbus · SSO · 500 gallons report · notice · map | ended |
| to 12:00 PM | “Horse Creek” · 393 West Mills Street, Columbus · SSO · 500 gallons report · notice · map | ended |
Sources: NC DEQ DWR "SSOs and Bypasses" ArcGIS layer, retrieved 2026-11-05 01:08 UTC. A report's record id and times show when you hover or focus its "report" link.
All reports in North Carolina by year: 2026 (2 from Town of Columbus)
Reported discharges over time
- Discharges reported by Town of Columbus, last 12 months2December 2025 to November 2026Verified reports where available, else notices; revisions and duplicates counted once.
- Days with a discharge reported by Town of Columbus, last 12 months2December 2025 to November 2026A day counts once however many discharges were under way on it.
- Hours with a discharge or advisory status from Town of Columbus's reports, last 12 months6December 2025 to November 2026Red hours by the map's rules: each discharge to its reported end plus the state's post-discharge period; overlapping hours count once.
- 2026 season with a discharge or advisory status (Town of Columbus)0.1%May to October 2026Share of May 1 to October 31 hours with red status by the map's rules, of the hours a source covered.
Combined sewer overflow (CSO): sewage mixed with rainwater spills from a shared sewer system. Treatment bypass: wastewater skips one or more treatment steps. Blended discharge: wastewater that skipped some treatment is mixed with treated wastewater.
Reported discharges per month
2 reported discharges, January 2022 to November 2026.
- Combined sewer overflow
- Sanitary sewer overflow
- Treatment bypass, blended or other
- No tracked source for this period
- Incomplete source coverage
No tracked source covers January 2022 to December 2025.
Source: nc-dwr-sso-2026. Records cover January 2, 2026 to November 4, 2026.
Show table
| Month | Combined sewer overflow | Sanitary sewer overflow | Treatment bypass, blended or other | Total | Counted from | Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 2022 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No tracked source for this period | |
| February 2022 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No tracked source for this period | |
| March 2022 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No tracked source for this period | |
| April 2022 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No tracked source for this period | |
| May 2022 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No tracked source for this period | |
| June 2022 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No tracked source for this period | |
| July 2022 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No tracked source for this period | |
| August 2022 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No tracked source for this period | |
| September 2022 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No tracked source for this period | |
| October 2022 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No tracked source for this period | |
| November 2022 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No tracked source for this period | |
| December 2022 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No tracked source for this period | |
| January 2023 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No tracked source for this period | |
| February 2023 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No tracked source for this period | |
| March 2023 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No tracked source for this period | |
| April 2023 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No tracked source for this period | |
| May 2023 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No tracked source for this period | |
| June 2023 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No tracked source for this period | |
| July 2023 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No tracked source for this period | |
| August 2023 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No tracked source for this period | |
| September 2023 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No tracked source for this period | |
| October 2023 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No tracked source for this period | |
| November 2023 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No tracked source for this period | |
| December 2023 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No tracked source for this period | |
| January 2024 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No tracked source for this period | |
| February 2024 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No tracked source for this period | |
| March 2024 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No tracked source for this period | |
| April 2024 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No tracked source for this period | |
| May 2024 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No tracked source for this period | |
| June 2024 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No tracked source for this period | |
| July 2024 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No tracked source for this period | |
| August 2024 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No tracked source for this period | |
| September 2024 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No tracked source for this period | |
| October 2024 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No tracked source for this period | |
| November 2024 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No tracked source for this period | |
| December 2024 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No tracked source for this period | |
| January 2025 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No tracked source for this period | |
| February 2025 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No tracked source for this period | |
| March 2025 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No tracked source for this period | |
| April 2025 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No tracked source for this period | |
| May 2025 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No tracked source for this period | |
| June 2025 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No tracked source for this period | |
| July 2025 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No tracked source for this period | |
| August 2025 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No tracked source for this period | |
| September 2025 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No tracked source for this period | |
| October 2025 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No tracked source for this period | |
| November 2025 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No tracked source for this period | |
| December 2025 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No tracked source for this period | |
| January 2026 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Incomplete source coverage | |
| February 2026 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| March 2026 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| April 2026 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| May 2026 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | Source records | |
| June 2026 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | Source records | |
| July 2026 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| August 2026 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| September 2026 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| October 2026 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| November 2026 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Hours with a discharge or advisory status per month
Hours when a water had a discharge or advisory status from this sewer operator's reports, under DirtyWaterWatch rules.
- Discharge or advisory reported
- No tracked source for this period
- Incomplete source coverage
No tracked source covers January 2022 to December 2025. Official beach and cyanobacteria (harmful blue-green algae) advisories are counted on water pages only.
Source: nc-dwr-sso-2026. Records cover January 2, 2026 to November 4, 2026.
Show table
| Month | Hours with a discharge or advisory status | Hours from post-discharge periods | Hours in the month | Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 2022 | 0 | 0 | 744 | No tracked source for this period |
| February 2022 | 0 | 0 | 672 | No tracked source for this period |
| March 2022 | 0 | 0 | 744 | No tracked source for this period |
| April 2022 | 0 | 0 | 720 | No tracked source for this period |
| May 2022 | 0 | 0 | 744 | No tracked source for this period |
| June 2022 | 0 | 0 | 720 | No tracked source for this period |
| July 2022 | 0 | 0 | 744 | No tracked source for this period |
| August 2022 | 0 | 0 | 744 | No tracked source for this period |
| September 2022 | 0 | 0 | 720 | No tracked source for this period |
| October 2022 | 0 | 0 | 744 | No tracked source for this period |
| November 2022 | 0 | 0 | 720 | No tracked source for this period |
| December 2022 | 0 | 0 | 744 | No tracked source for this period |
| January 2023 | 0 | 0 | 744 | No tracked source for this period |
| February 2023 | 0 | 0 | 672 | No tracked source for this period |
| March 2023 | 0 | 0 | 744 | No tracked source for this period |
| April 2023 | 0 | 0 | 720 | No tracked source for this period |
| May 2023 | 0 | 0 | 744 | No tracked source for this period |
| June 2023 | 0 | 0 | 720 | No tracked source for this period |
| July 2023 | 0 | 0 | 744 | No tracked source for this period |
| August 2023 | 0 | 0 | 744 | No tracked source for this period |
| September 2023 | 0 | 0 | 720 | No tracked source for this period |
| October 2023 | 0 | 0 | 744 | No tracked source for this period |
| November 2023 | 0 | 0 | 720 | No tracked source for this period |
| December 2023 | 0 | 0 | 744 | No tracked source for this period |
| January 2024 | 0 | 0 | 744 | No tracked source for this period |
| February 2024 | 0 | 0 | 696 | No tracked source for this period |
| March 2024 | 0 | 0 | 744 | No tracked source for this period |
| April 2024 | 0 | 0 | 720 | No tracked source for this period |
| May 2024 | 0 | 0 | 744 | No tracked source for this period |
| June 2024 | 0 | 0 | 720 | No tracked source for this period |
| July 2024 | 0 | 0 | 744 | No tracked source for this period |
| August 2024 | 0 | 0 | 744 | No tracked source for this period |
| September 2024 | 0 | 0 | 720 | No tracked source for this period |
| October 2024 | 0 | 0 | 744 | No tracked source for this period |
| November 2024 | 0 | 0 | 720 | No tracked source for this period |
| December 2024 | 0 | 0 | 744 | No tracked source for this period |
| January 2025 | 0 | 0 | 744 | No tracked source for this period |
| February 2025 | 0 | 0 | 672 | No tracked source for this period |
| March 2025 | 0 | 0 | 744 | No tracked source for this period |
| April 2025 | 0 | 0 | 720 | No tracked source for this period |
| May 2025 | 0 | 0 | 744 | No tracked source for this period |
| June 2025 | 0 | 0 | 720 | No tracked source for this period |
| July 2025 | 0 | 0 | 744 | No tracked source for this period |
| August 2025 | 0 | 0 | 744 | No tracked source for this period |
| September 2025 | 0 | 0 | 720 | No tracked source for this period |
| October 2025 | 0 | 0 | 744 | No tracked source for this period |
| November 2025 | 0 | 0 | 720 | No tracked source for this period |
| December 2025 | 0 | 0 | 744 | No tracked source for this period |
| January 2026 | 0 | 0 | 744 | Incomplete source coverage |
| February 2026 | 0 | 0 | 672 | |
| March 2026 | 0 | 0 | 744 | |
| April 2026 | 0 | 0 | 720 | |
| May 2026 | 5 | 5 | 744 | |
| June 2026 | 2 | 2 | 720 | |
| July 2026 | 0 | 0 | 744 | |
| August 2026 | 0 | 0 | 744 | |
| September 2026 | 0 | 0 | 720 | |
| October 2026 | 0 | 0 | 744 | |
| November 2026 | 0 | 0 | 94 |
Days with a reported discharge per month
A day counts when any counted discharge was under way on it, from its start to its reported end in Eastern Time; a report with no end counts its start day.
- No tracked source for this period
- Incomplete source coverage
No tracked source covers January 2022 to December 2025.
Source: nc-dwr-sso-2026. Records cover January 2, 2026 to November 4, 2026.
Show table
| Month | Days with a reported discharge | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| January 2022 | 0 | No tracked source for this period |
| February 2022 | 0 | No tracked source for this period |
| March 2022 | 0 | No tracked source for this period |
| April 2022 | 0 | No tracked source for this period |
| May 2022 | 0 | No tracked source for this period |
| June 2022 | 0 | No tracked source for this period |
| July 2022 | 0 | No tracked source for this period |
| August 2022 | 0 | No tracked source for this period |
| September 2022 | 0 | No tracked source for this period |
| October 2022 | 0 | No tracked source for this period |
| November 2022 | 0 | No tracked source for this period |
| December 2022 | 0 | No tracked source for this period |
| January 2023 | 0 | No tracked source for this period |
| February 2023 | 0 | No tracked source for this period |
| March 2023 | 0 | No tracked source for this period |
| April 2023 | 0 | No tracked source for this period |
| May 2023 | 0 | No tracked source for this period |
| June 2023 | 0 | No tracked source for this period |
| July 2023 | 0 | No tracked source for this period |
| August 2023 | 0 | No tracked source for this period |
| September 2023 | 0 | No tracked source for this period |
| October 2023 | 0 | No tracked source for this period |
| November 2023 | 0 | No tracked source for this period |
| December 2023 | 0 | No tracked source for this period |
| January 2024 | 0 | No tracked source for this period |
| February 2024 | 0 | No tracked source for this period |
| March 2024 | 0 | No tracked source for this period |
| April 2024 | 0 | No tracked source for this period |
| May 2024 | 0 | No tracked source for this period |
| June 2024 | 0 | No tracked source for this period |
| July 2024 | 0 | No tracked source for this period |
| August 2024 | 0 | No tracked source for this period |
| September 2024 | 0 | No tracked source for this period |
| October 2024 | 0 | No tracked source for this period |
| November 2024 | 0 | No tracked source for this period |
| December 2024 | 0 | No tracked source for this period |
| January 2025 | 0 | No tracked source for this period |
| February 2025 | 0 | No tracked source for this period |
| March 2025 | 0 | No tracked source for this period |
| April 2025 | 0 | No tracked source for this period |
| May 2025 | 0 | No tracked source for this period |
| June 2025 | 0 | No tracked source for this period |
| July 2025 | 0 | No tracked source for this period |
| August 2025 | 0 | No tracked source for this period |
| September 2025 | 0 | No tracked source for this period |
| October 2025 | 0 | No tracked source for this period |
| November 2025 | 0 | No tracked source for this period |
| December 2025 | 0 | No tracked source for this period |
| January 2026 | 0 | Incomplete source coverage |
| February 2026 | 0 | |
| March 2026 | 0 | |
| April 2026 | 0 | |
| May 2026 | 1 | |
| June 2026 | 1 | |
| July 2026 | 0 | |
| August 2026 | 0 | |
| September 2026 | 0 | |
| October 2026 | 0 | |
| November 2026 | 0 |
Reported volume per year
Gallons (axis: K thousand, M million), summed from the 2 reports that gave a volume as a number.
- Incomplete source coverage
Source: nc-dwr-sso-2026. Records cover January 2, 2026 to November 4, 2026.
Show table
| Year | Reported volume, gallons | Reports with a volume | Reports without a volume | Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1,000 | 2 | 0 | Incomplete source coverage |
Hours with a discharge or advisory status per year
Hours with a discharge or advisory status each year under DirtyWaterWatch rules; 2026 to date.
- Discharge or advisory reported
- Incomplete source coverage
Official beach and cyanobacteria (harmful blue-green algae) advisories are counted on water pages only.
Source: nc-dwr-sso-2026. Records cover January 2, 2026 to November 4, 2026.
Show table
| Year | Hours with a discharge or advisory status | Share of the year | Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 7 | 0.1% | Incomplete source coverage |
Reported discharges by calendar month, all years
Every counted discharge report, by the calendar month it began.
Months are summed over every year a tracked source covers; the table gives the number of years behind each month.
Source: nc-dwr-sso-2026. Records cover January 2, 2026 to November 4, 2026.
Show table
| Month | Reported discharges | Years of records |
|---|---|---|
| January | 0 | 1 |
| February | 0 | 1 |
| March | 0 | 1 |
| April | 0 | 1 |
| May | 1 | 1 |
| June | 1 | 1 |
| July | 0 | 1 |
| August | 0 | 1 |
| September | 0 | 1 |
| October | 0 | 1 |
| November | 0 | 1 |
| December | 0 | 0 |
Reported discharges by wastewater outlet
Wastewater outlets with the most tracked discharge records: 2 of 2, all years. Counts depend on reporting coverage and do not measure legal compliance or harm.
Source: nc-dwr-sso-2026. Records cover January 2, 2026 to November 4, 2026.
Show table
| Wastewater outlet | Reported discharges |
|---|---|
| 831 West Mills Street, Columbus | 1 |
| 393 West Mills Street, Columbus | 1 |
How these charts are counted
We count each discharge once. Where a source publishes notices and confirmed reports, we use confirmed reports for an operator's month when available; otherwise we use notices. We combine revisions and exclude duplicate state reports copied by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Monthly and yearly totals appear separately. Status hours follow this site's rules. Shaded gaps mean missing coverage, not zero discharges.
- nc-dwr-sso-2026: records from January 2, 2026 to the latest update