VALDOSTA – During the past two weeks, The City of Valdosta and surrounding areas have received a combined total of 15 inches of rain during several storm events.

Included in that total is the 3- to 4-inches of rain that Valdosta received over the weekend. During the most recent weekend rain event, city infrastructure operated as designed. While the Withlacoochee Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) has a normal average daily flow of 3.5 million gallons (MG), this past weekend, the influent flow peaked at more than 22MG—nearly seven times the normal rate.

As a result of recent rainfall totals into the plant, the structures were overwhelmed. The current system has four processing units, although during normal operations the system only requires one. During this storm event, the Withlacoochee Plant was running all four units plus the excess flow equalization basin. Additionally, the city is working with the Georgia Environmental Protection Division to design and install additional storage capacity at the facility.

On December 15 and 16, the City of Valdosta’s WWTP identified intermittent sewage spills.  The spill was caused by the large amounts of rainfall received within a 24-hour period, which resulted in storm water infiltration and inflow entering the sanitary sewer system and exceeding the capacity of the system.

Sewer spills are not acceptable at any time. It has been the city’s top priority to prevent them all through the construction of the new WWTP and the Force Main, as well as the Lift Station Rehab Program, Smoke Testing Program, Annual Manhole Rehab Program, and the ongoing River Sampling Program that tests waters before,during and after major rain events.

The city continues its ongoing efforts to improve the infrastructure of the sewer system to eliminate these issues in the future. Improving our sewer system has and will continue to be a main priority. For more information, contact the Utilities DepartmentEnvironmental Manager Scott Fowler at 229-259-3592 or sfowler@valdostacity.com.