First the water turned red and stinky. It was a red algae bloom, and Director of Communications Bill Crabtree was sending out advisories last week for anyone visiting E. Carroll Joyner Park to avoid the pond and keep dogs away because they could become very ill drinking the water.
On Monday Crabtree announced Raleigh Water had located a leaky sewer line that was causing the color and odor – all because of a build-up of household grease in the line. “Mitigation efforts in and around the Joyner Park Pond are expected to continue for the next several days,” the advisory said.
The pond and the adjacent trail remain closed. Signage and fencing have been posted to inform the public of the pond’s closure. Joyner Park visitors are urged to obey the signs and avoid the area.
Additional information will be provided as it becomes available. For more information, contact Stormwater Utility Manager Nick Nolte at 919-435-9449 or nnolte@wakeforestnc.gov.
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