Pig Waste Spill Floods North Carolina Waterway

A quiet weekend in North Carolina took a turn when over 80,000 gallons of pig waste flooded a waterway. The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) estimates the spill at 84,000 gallons, pouring into a tributary of Doctor’s Creek in Duplin County. This creek feeds the Northeast Cape Fear River, part of the state’s largest river basin. The incident raises concerns about water quality downstream.

The Source of the Spill & Efforts to Contain the Damage

The trouble began at Murphy-Brown, LLC, a pig farm near Wallace. Records from 2024 show it holds up to 3,500 pigs. That’s a significant operation producing a lot of waste.

NCDEQ traces the spill to a pump failure moving waste between lagoons. It started early on February 15 and ran until early February 16—nearly a full day of leakage.

The farm sits on Kenan Loop Road in southern Duplin County. Waste from there hit the Doctor’s Creek tributary, which links to the Northeast Cape Fear River. That river flows into the Cape Fear River Basin, covering vast stretches of North Carolina.

This basin serves millions across 27 counties. A spill in one corner can affect many beyond Wallace.

Workers at Murphy-Brown acted fast, pulling waste back from the tributary to a secondary lagoon. NCDEQ staff inspected the cleanup, testing water upstream and downstream of the spill site.

The agency’s February 18 statement skips the test results. They note, however, “No public water system surface water intakes were in the path impacted by the spill.” That’s a key detail for public safety.

Monitoring the Aftermath, The River System at Stake

NCDEQ commits to tracking water quality in the area going forward. A spill of 84,000 gallons doesn’t fade quickly. Ongoing checks aim to spot any lingering effects.

For now, the cleanup’s complete. But the lack of test data leaves questions hanging.

The Northeast Cape Fear River ties into a vital network. The Cape Fear River Basin supports drinking water, agriculture, and ecosystems across the state. A spill here matters.

NCDEQ’s point about public water intakes offers reassurance. Still, the basin’s size means impacts could spread.

What’s Left in the Water? A Basin Under Watch.

Consider the numbers: 84,000 gallons from 3,500 pigs flowed into the tributary. The farm retrieved much of it, but water holds onto traces. NCDEQ’s silence on test results fuels curiosity.

Their plan to monitor suggests caution. It’s a step to ensure the creek—and beyond—stays safe.

The Cape Fear River Basin stands as North Carolina’s biggest. It’s a lifeline for communities and wildlife. A spill in a tributary tests its resilience.

For Duplin County residents, this feels local. The farm’s in their backyard, and the creek’s nearby.

The leak ran from February 15 to February 16—one day of trouble. Cleanup followed, but the waterway absorbed the brunt. NCDEQ’s assurance about water intakes calms some fears.

Even so, the full story waits on those test results. Until then, the spill’s reach remains unclear.

Living Near the Incident & Big Farms, Real Risks

Murphy-Brown manages 3,500 pigs—a big number tied to big waste. Lagoons store it, but equipment breakdowns let it loose. This spill shows the challenge of containing such operations.

It lasted 24 hours, dumping a massive volume. The farm’s response helped, yet the waterway took a hit.

Folks along Kenan Loop Road saw this unfold. A pig farm’s spill hits home for them. NCDEQ says public water’s untouched for now.

Downstream, though, people wonder. A 24-hour spill leaves a mark worth watching.

Murphy-Brown runs a large-scale setup. A pump fails, and 84,000 gallons escape. That’s the reality when thousands of pigs produce waste daily.

The farm acted swiftly, but nature moves slower. NCDEQ’s checks will track what’s left behind.

Pigs don’t cause spills—systems do. Murphy-Brown’s job is keeping waste in place. When it fails, waterways suffer.

The farm recovered much of the 84,000 gallons. Still, the tributary felt the impact first.

Reverse Osmosis and Water Conditioners as Solutions

Reverse osmosis and whole-home water conditioners offer practical fixes here. Reverse osmosis filters water through a fine membrane, stripping out waste traces for safe drinking. Whole-home conditioners treat all water—drinking, bathing, washing—reducing exposure to spill leftovers. Both provide a buffer for homes near affected waterways.

Source: WBTV