Update 2023-02-25: Ashburn sewage spills in Clean Withlacoochee River 2023-02-23.

Update 2023-02-24: Another Valdosta E. Park Ave. sewage spill, 171,750 gallons 2023-02-20

Thursday was jackpot day for the GA-EPD Sewage Spills Report, with Ashburn reporting spills totalling 326,000 gallons, almost half of Valdosta’s one 672,250 gallon spill.

GA-EPD Sewage Spills Report 2023-02-23

First let’s look at Ashburn, then Valdosta.

Ashburn spills

Ashburn’s biggest spills were from its Airport WPCP, which goes into Hat Creek which runs into the Alapaha River upstream of US 319.

Ashburn also spilled 3,000 gallons twice from its MLK Liftstation, into Ashburn Branch, which ends up in the Little River upstream of Coverdale Highway. The first 3,000 gallons, on January 26th, is revised upwards from the previously-reported 2,000 gallons.

2023-02-23–ashburn-ga-epd-sewage-spills-report

All these Ashburn spills are so far upstream of anywhere people boat on the Alapaha or Little Rivers, they probably would not have been detectable down there. However, it would be quite interesting to see the test results from Reed Bingham State Park on the Little River.

Valdosta spills

Valdosta had the one big pipe collapse at US 84, causing leakage up at E. Park Ave. (Lakeland Highway).

2023-02-23–valdosta-ga-epd-sewage-spills-report

I went by there today, East Park Avenue east of Jaycee Shack Road.

The area stunk of sewage east from the lift station…

Lakeland Hwy Station, 1850 E. Park Ave., 15:17:50, 30.8608587, -83.2552382

to Knights Creek.

Knights Creek downstream: it stunk, 15:22:29, 30.8611843, -83.2547908

The sewage spill warning sign is on the bridge in the middle of Knights Creek.

Knights Creek downstream with spill sign, 15:22:54, 30.8611843, -83.2547908

Like many Valdosta creeks, Knights Creek has a trashjam.

Trashjam in Knights Creek, 15:23:08, 30.8611843, -83.2547908

Here is Knights Creek looking upstream.

Knights Creek upstream with box and round culverts, 15:24:04, 30.8611840, -83.2543700

Over at US 84, the warning signs are also at Knights Creek.

CSX RR culverts, 15:34:05, 30.8439515, -83.2431612

Warning sign with US 84 dual box culvert over Knights Creek, 15:34:40, 30.8439323, -83.2429710

US 84 upstream Knights Creek, 15:35:57, 30.8439614, -83.2431395

This appears to be the sewer line diversion, going under the CSX railroad tracks.

Diversion pipe goes under CSX RR tracks, 15:42:58, 30.8435637, -83.2454094

I don’t know if this pipe yard on the other side of US 84 is related.

Pipe yard next to Valdosta sign, 15:41:49, 30.8432712, -83.2456592

This is looking up the sewer main northwards towards East Park Ave.

Sewer main looking north towards E. Park Ave., 15:43:23, 30.8436471, -83.2449044

And this sign is just west of all this US 84 activity:

Welcome to Valdosta, A City Without Limits, 15:39:31, 30.8433143, -83.2457024

There are more pictures on the WWALS website.

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

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https://wwals.net/donations/

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