An environmental group is asking the North Carolina Dept. of Environmental Quality to address ongoing wastewater pollution flowing into the Haw River.
The Saxapahaw wastewater treatment plan in Alamance County has been discharging high levels of fecal bacteria into the Haw River for months, according to a statement released Friday by Haw River Assembly.
During water quality sampling conducted since the beginning of 2026, Haw River Assembly detected E. coli levels that are more than 12 times greater than levels deemed safe by Open Water Data in the plant’s discharge. Some samples were brown in color, carried a foul odor and contained floating solid material, according to Haw River Assembly.
DEQ found similar readings on March 2, documenting fecal coliform in the plant’s discharge that exceeded the state water quality standard, the statement said.
High levels of E. coli in water used for recreation can cause sickness, sometimes serious, in people who come in contact with it. It’s not unusual for public health officials to close beaches and river access points where bacteria levels are high.
A local canoe and kayaking company rents to individuals a little upstream of the wastewater discharge point, which could lead to people traveling directly through the contaminated zone.
“The Haw River is a beloved resource for our community — people swim here, paddle here and bring their families here,” said Emily Sutton, Haw Riverkeeper and executive director at Haw River Assembly. “With swim season fast approaching, we need this to be remedied as quickly as possible.”
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Haw River Assembly is calling for DEQ to investigate the facility’s treatment failures. The group also wants the agency to review the plant’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit, incorporating stronger monitoring requirements and enforceable limits.
Residents and visitors in Saxapahaw have reported ongoing foul smells coming from the facility, according to Haw River Assembly.
DEQ and the Alamance County Environmental Health Department did not immediately respond to NC Newsline’s request for comment.
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