North Carolina / Sewer operators /

City of Hickory

Sewer utility · North Carolina · Hickory, Catawba

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). Square boat markers mark boat launches listed by OpenBoatLaunch.

Federal wastewater discharge permit (NPDES)

NC0020401, WQCS00020, NC0025542, NC0040797

Wastewater outlets

4 treatment plant outfalls listed by EPA or state agencies; 74 places named in its own overflow reports (provisional locations) · List

Waters listed as receiving wastewater

CATAWBA RIVER (Lake Hickory below elevation 935); Lyle Creek; Henry Fork

Tracked waters

Catawba River, NC, Henry Fork, NC, Lyle Creek, NC, Lake Hickory, NC, Frye Creek, NC, Clark Creek, NC, Cripple Creek, NC, Horseford Creek, NC, Lake Norman, NC, Longview Creek, NC, Miller Branch, NC, Rock Creek, NC, Geitner Branch, NC, Long Shoal Creek, NC, Snow Creek, NC, Barger Branch, NC

Discharge records counted

90 records · latest Oct 14, 2026, 2:15 PM EDT

Total reported volume in these records

203,536 gallons across the 88 records that give a volume (2 without one)

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 06:27 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: City of Hickory'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.

4 treatment plant outfalls listed by EPA or state agencies; 74 places named in its own overflow reports (provisional locations).

Reports and advisories

Sanitary sewer overflow (SSO): sewage spills from a sewer meant to carry sewage separately from rainwater.

Sources: NC DEQ DWR "SSOs and Bypasses" ArcGIS layer, retrieved 2026-11-05 01:08 UTC; NC DWR Sanitary Sewer Overflows September 2022 through December 2025 (ArcGIS), retrieved 2026-11-04 06:57 UTC. A report's record id and times show when you hover or focus its "report" link.

Download these reports as CSV

All reports in North Carolina by year: 2026 (24 from City of Hickory) · 2025 (13 from City of Hickory) · 2024 (29 from City of Hickory) · 2023 (16 from City of Hickory) · 2022 (9 from City of Hickory)

Other sewer operators on these waters

• Catawba River, NC: Charlotte Water, City of Belmont, City of Gastonia, City of Lowell, City of Morganton, High Shoals State Street WWTP, Town of Valdese, Lincoln County, Town of Granite Falls, City of Marion, City of Mount Holly
• Lyle Creek, NC: City of Conover, City of Claremont
• Clark Creek, NC: City of Newton, Town of Maiden
• Lake Norman, NC: Charlotte Water, Lincoln County, Town of Mooresville, City of Lincolnton, Birch and Held LLC

The last 90 days

Reported discharges over time