For Immediate Release
Date: May 18, 2016

City of Savannah Water Resources crews responded to three minor sewage spills yesterday, all related to the heavy rains. All three spills were classified as minor spills under State Environmental Protection Division guidelines. All regulatory authorities were notified. Public notification is required per State guidelines.

3709 Clinch Street
The spill took place at 3:42 pm on May 17. An estimated 560 gallons was spilled before being corrected at 4:10 p.m. The spill was caused by a grease blockage in the gravity sewer main and was increased by the major rain event, which further caused an overflow of storm water and sewage mix from a manhole to the storm system. Crews worked to reduce flows to the spill by reducing flow from an upstream sewer lift station. Spill notification markers were placed at the spill site where discharge went into canal and along other locations – Springfield Canal / West Gwinnett Street and Bowles Ford Park / Springfield Canal. All entities (Georgia Environmental Protection Division, and Heath Department) were contacted.

1835 Mitchell Street
The spill took place at 5:45 pm on May 17. An estimated 125 gallons was spilled before being corrected at 6:10 pm. The major rain event caused an overflow of storm water and sewage mix from a manhole to the storm system. Crews reduced flows to the spill by reducing flows from an upstream sewer lift station. Spill notification markers were placed at the spill site where discharge went into canal and along other locations – Springfield Canal / West Gwinnett Street and Bowles Ford Park / Springfield Canal. All entities (Georgia Environmental Protection Division, and Heath Department) were contacted.

7722 Waters Avenue
The spill took place at 4:37 p.m. on May 17. An estimated 9,180 gallons were spilled before being corrected at 6:25 p.m. The major rain event caused an overflow (mix of storm water and sewage) from a manhole to the storm system. Crews reduced and stopped the overflow by reducing upstream lift station flows. Spill notification markers were placed at the spill site where discharge went into Canal along with other locations – Eisenhower / Casey Canal, Sallie Mood / Casey Canal, and Montgomery Crossroads / Hayner’s Creek. All entities (Georgia Environmental Protection Division, and Heath Department) were contacted.