Public Notice Johnston County Notice of Discharge of Untreated Sewage General Statute 143-215.1C requires that the owner or operator of any wastewater collection or treatment works to issue a public notice when an untreated wastewater discharge of 15,000 gallons or more reaches surface waters. In accordance with that regulation, the following public notice has been prepared and issued to media in the affected county: The Johnston County wastewater collection system had a discharge of untreated wastewater from the wastewater collection system in the vicinity of 2756 Brightleaf Boulevard, Smithfield, NC. Approximately 81,900 gallons of untreated wastewater discharged into wetlands adjacent to the Neuse River Basin from approximately 5:00 pm February 5 until 7:00 am on February 6, 2026. The discharge was a result of an electrical dead fault to ground of pump #1, which caused the control cabinet power breaker to fail. When the pump shorted to ground, the control cabinet power breaker tripped disconnecting all power to secondary pumps, alarms, and generator controls. The Division of Water Resources was notified of the event on February 6, 2026. Staff restored pumping operations, and recovered approximately 82,700 gallons from the wetlands. The recovered water was discharged into the wastewater collection system for treatment. Furthermore, the County recently awarded a construction contract to replace the existing wastewater pump station. The new wastewater pump station is scheduled to be operational in the spring of 2027. This notice was required by North Carolina General Statutes Article 21, Chapter 143.215C. For more information, contact the Johnston County Public Utilities Department at (919) 989-5075. IPL0314791 Feb 18 2026