VALDOSTA — On Feb. 16, at approximately 11 a.m., City of Valdosta crews responded to a customer complaint in the area of Old Statenville Road and Arlington Avenue. Upon arrival, the city crews noticed the manhole at the 1100 block of Old Statenville Road was overflowing. The city estimates that 375 gallons of wastewater flowed into a tributary to Dukes Bay Canal.

The cause of the sewer spill was due to a buildup of rags and grease from a poorly maintained private sewer system discharging into a City of Valdosta sewer main. This is the second instance in the last two years in which a sewer spill at this location was caused by the improper maintenance of this internal private sewer system. As a result, the City of Valdosta Utilities Department will issue the property owner(s) a formal Notice of Violation of the city’s Sewer Use Ordinance. Should another spill occur at this location, the Utilities Department will initiate court proceedings against the property owner(s) as outlined under the Sewer Use Ordinance Enforcement and Penalties Sections.
The city crews cleaned the area, recovered wastewater, and applied lime to disinfect the affected areas. Public notification signs have been placed at and downstream of the spill site. The public is advised to avoid contact with tributary of Dukes Bay Canal. The Environmental Protection Division and local Health Department have been notified of the spill.

For more information, contact Environmental Manager John Waite at (229) 259-3592 or at jwaite@valdostacity.com, or visit www.valdostacity.com/utilities.

Sementha Mathews: Public Information Officer