Update 2025-01-10: Filthy Sugar Creek, OK Withlacoochee River, Clean Alapaha River 2025-01-09.

Update 2025-01-08: Sewer line break, Sugar Creek 2025-01-07.

Congratulations to the City of Valdosta and Utilities Director Jason Barnes for finding the Sugar Creek sewer leak.

He told me this afternoon that a bypass pump is already in place will be in place soon.

Finding it became easier after WWALS water quality testing narrowed the potential location within 2,000 feet.

The press release does not say exactly where the leak is, but according to descriptions (between the railroad trestle and Gornto Road and in the creek), I think it is probably the pipe pictured.

Valdosta has found the Sugar Creek sewer leak 2025-01-06, After WWALS narrowed it within 2000 feet

Also, I confidently predict the estimated spilled gallons will be at least 10,000, as in a major spill, after these two months it’s been spilling.

Congratulations again to Valdosta Utilities for finding the leak!

All of the images below are by WWALS; the Valdosta press release contains no images.

City of Valdosta Responds to Sewer Pipe Washout Along Sugar Creek

On Monday, January 6, 2025, at approximately 11:20 a.m., City personnel conducted inspections along Sugar Creek to identify a potential source of recent high bacterial counts in the area and a possible source of inflow into the lift stations. During this inspection, City workers discovered a recent washout where a sewer collection pipe had shifted open, allowing sanitary sewer to flow into the creek and vice versa.

Railroad sewer pipe, 2021-07-10, 10:09:16, 30.8538650, -83.3154290

Crews have been dispatched to the location and are actively working to establish containment and bypasses for the affected portion of the line. At this time, the volume of discharged wastewater is undetermined. Residents are strongly urged to avoid contact with Sugar Creek from Baytree Road to its confluence with the Withlacoochee River until repairs to this section of the line are completed.

2024 12 29 Map: Sugar Creek south of Gornto Road –VALORGIS

The Utilities Department’s Central Line Division will remain on-site until the issue is resolved. All appropriate regulatory and public health agencies have been notified.

2024 12 29 Map: Sugar Creek north of Baytree Road –VALORGIS

The City of Valdosta remains committed to preventing sanitary sewer overflows. The Utilities Department continues to modernize aging infrastructure and implement a range of programs and strategies to minimize and prevent such incidents within the city limits.

2024 12 29 Map: Sugar Creek Sewer –VALORGIS

For more information about these initiatives or to learn how you can contribute, please contact the City of Valdosta Utilities Department, Environmental Division, at (229) 259-3592.

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

You can help with clean, swimmable, fishable, drinkable, water in the 10,000-square-mile Suwannee River Basin in Florida and Georgia by becoming a WWALS member today!
https://wwals.net/donations/

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