City of Valdosta reports 135K gallon sewage spill

VALDOSTA, GA (WALB) - The City of Valdosta has reported a sewage spill at the Mud Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant after heavy rains Monday night.

According to a release from the city, about 135,000 gallons of secondary clarifier effluent spilled onto the plant grounds and into a storm drain that feeds Knight's Creek.

The release says the spill happened after about 1.5 inches of rain fell during a storm within hours on Friday night.

The city said the clarifier, which is one of the last steps of treatment before disinfection, became clogged with debris from the large amounts of flow entering the plant.

Officials said personnel identified the issue quickly and corrected the malfunction within minutes.

Spills of any nature are unacceptable, which is why it has been the city's top priority to prevent them through the addition of the new Wastewater Treatment Plant, Force Main, and Collection System Rehabilitation Program. Also, the city continues it River Sampling Program that tests water quality before, during and after major rain events.

While situations like this are unexpected, Mud Creek personnel added procedures to eliminate this issue in the future. Staff immediately began monitoring and testing the impacted area, as well as cleaning and disinfecting at the overflow locations and stream discharge points. Warning signs have been posted at the spill locations and downstream from these locations. Although the level of potential contamination to the creek is minimal, the public is advised to avoid any contact with the affected areas. Furthermore, all appropriate regulatory and public health agencies have been notified.

The city said it is continuing its efforts to improve the infrastructure of the sewer system to eliminate the issues in the future. City officials also said that "improving the sewer system has and will continue to be a priority."

In June, there was a 300,000-gallon sewage spill at the City of Valdosta's Withlacoochee Wastewater Treatment Plant.

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