River Task Force hears from City of Valdosta officials

Rick Patrick rick@greenepublishing.com

During a meeting held at Valdosta, Ga. City Hall, the Suwannee/Withlacoochee River Task Force, chaired by Madison County Commissioner Rick Davis, heard from officials from the City of Valdosta about improvements the city has made to address ongoing concerns over water quality of the Withlacoochee River as it flows through Valdosta on its way south. The Withlacoochee River is a major tributary for the Suwannee River. In the past, several sewage spills within the city have caused increased bacteria growth in the river, raising concerns among those who live near the river’s banks. The Valdosta officials explained that much of the city’s sewer infrastructure is decades old, some as much as 100 years old and has been in need of replacement for many years. In addition, catastrophic floods that occurred in 2009 and 2011 have further damaged the sewage system in the city. To address these issues, the city has spent $160 million between 2009 and 2017, with an additional $20 million spent between 2018 and 2025. The city also recently approved a $69 million bond measure to further repair the city’s crumbling sewer infrastructure. A number of projects have either been completed or are in the works, including the purchase of new generators and pumps, the replacement of sewer lines around the city, repair or replace many of the 6,500 manholes and 420 miles of sewer lines. The city is also building a second water treatment plant to be located near the airport. “I’m not making excuses,” said Jason Barnes, the City of Valdosta Utilities Director. “We have problems, but we are working on it. I have spent my career working on water treatment. I began right out of high school and it’s something I take very personally.” “Nothing really changes when you cross the state line,” said Davis. “The solution to pollution is no longer dilution.” Davis did ask that the city resume testing the waters for potential problems that may not be immediately noticeable. Davis also expressed disappointment that more members of the Valdosta City Council did not attend the meeting. One member of the Council was present when the meeting began and another member came in after the meeting was under way. It is anticipated that more meetings between the River Task Force and the Valdosta City Council will be planned in the future.