Rick Patrick, rick@greenepublishing.com
The City of Valdosta has reported that a minor spill occurred at around 11:30 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 4. City work crews were dispatched to an address on Wainwright Drive, in Valdosta, where they discovered a sewer manhole discharging into nearby Sugar Creek. Sugar Creek is a tributary of the Withlacoochee River, which flows through Madison County.
It was determined that the overflow was the result of excessive Infiltration and Inflow (I and I) into the sewer collection system. It is believed this was brought about by heavy rains earlier in the day. The increased water volume overwhelmed the system causing the discharge. The overflow ceased within an hour and resulted in between 500 and 1,000 gallons being released into the creek. This amount is not expected to cause any issues for Madison County.
“The City of Valdosta is committed to protecting public health and the environment,” the city said in a press release. “The Utilities Department continues to invest in the upgrading of aging infrastructure, as well as in proactive maintenance, monitoring programs and the development of new strategies to mitigate the impacts of severe weather and I and I.”