City responds to sewer overflow
Feb. 29—VALDOSTA — Valdosta utility crews searching for a sewer overflow Tuesday found it in the northwest part of the city. They were able to clear the obstruction that was causing it, but in the meantime an estimated 1,500 gallons of sewage was released.
At 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Utility Central Lines personnel were looking for the spill in the 200 block of Knob Hill Drive, but they tracked it to an overflowing manhole on the backside of nearby Williamsburg Drive, the city said in a press release Thursday morning.
All utility divisions were immediately notified and began investigating the cause of the overflow, the city said. The overflow was caused by an unknown obstruction, which was quickly removed by Central Lines crew using high-pressure jetting.
"The Sanitary Sewer overflow stopped at 12:30 p.m. the same day, releasing approximately 1,500 gallons into a drainage ditch that discharges into the Withlacoochee River," the city said. "All appropriate agencies have been notified and upon clearing the obstruction, city staff began cleaning and sanitation of the site. The site will be monitored, and any future cleaning and sanitizing of the site will be done as needed."
The City of Valdosta has experienced numerous sewer overflows over the past several months, but the city reports that it's dedicated significant resources into preventing them.
"Currently, the Utilities Department is not only updating aging infrastructure but also managing a multitude of programs and developing new plans of action to limit and prevent Sanitary Sewer overflows in the City of Valdosta," Thursday's release said.
If you would like more information about these programs or how you can contribute, please contact the City of Valdosta Utilities Department, Environmental Division, at 229-259-3592.
