Lake Norman sewage spill prompts no-swim advisory. Here’s the cause.

Health officials issued a no-swim advisory for an unnamed Lake Norman cove after about 2,000 gallons of raw sewage spilled into the lake Monday.

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Heavy rains caused the spill around 3 p.m. in the 8000 block of Shore Drive in Denver, according to the Lincoln County Health Department. That’s off Hagers Ferry Road on the lake’s western shores.

The rains caused a short circuit in a junction box, leading a lift station to malfunction, officials said.

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“As a precautionary measure, the Health Director advises all residents that this area may be contaminated with fecal coliform,” according to a statement by Lincoln County government. “Residents are advised not to swim or otherwise have bodily contact with the water in this area.”

Workers at the county’s Killian Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant are taking water samples. “The public can resume water activities in this area when samples indicate fecal coliform counts are at an acceptable risk level per state guidelines from the NC Department of Environmental Quality,” according to the statement.

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