Scotti Jay updated around 1 PM today, “Wainwright still spewing sewage a day later. Lid popped. No warning signs. No lime. No response team. Only a press release stating the city found the leak.”

Scotti added, “A city truck pulled up. I told him it’s still spewing. Asked when they were going to put up signs. His only response was ‘Thanks for letting us know.’”

Valdosta posted midafternoon: “Update as of August 24, 2025, 3:30 p.m.: The overflow has stopped. It is estimated that approximately 20,000 gallons of stormwater diluted wastewater to the adjacent creek. All required agencies have been notified.”

Stopped Sewage Spill, Wainwright Drive, One Mile Branch, Valdosta, GA 2025-08-24

So that’s a bit less than 27 hours after Scotti Jay reported the spill to the city at 12:50 PM yesterday. Sort of quick. Better than in many previous years.

20,000 gallons is twice a major spill. Not good.

Still no warning signs. Also not good.

This is the same Wainwright Drive manhole that has spilled repeatedly over many years.

Table: Wainwright Drive Sewage Spills Since 2015, 2025-08-23 — WWALS from GA-EPD Sewage Spills Report

I understand inflow and infiltration is hard to fix. But surely something can be done to stop sewage from spewing out of this manhole.

And what stops the city from planting sewage spill signs?

The sewage goes directly into One Mile Branch, which runs into Sugar Creek, then into the Withlacoochee River.

Valdosta is still reporting this location as spilling into Sugar Creek, which it is not.

Map: Wainwright Drive Manhole, 2025-08-23 in the WWALS map of the Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail (WLRWT)

Valdosta Press Releases

WWALS got the original Valdosta press release at 9:47 AM, which is presumably about when they posted it on their website.

We did not receive the Valdosta’s update, although we see it on their website. Only the third sentence is different (see above). It does not appear that any news media have covered the updated press release. Makes you wonder did the city send the updated press release to any of them?

The Valdosta Daily Times posted a slightly stirred version of this morning’s Valdosta press release: City of Valdosta responds to sewage overflow.

Jade Bulecza, WTXL TV, at 3:53 PM posted a synopsis of the morning press release, Sewage overflows into Sugar Creek in Valdosta: City of Valdosta monitors situation.

WCTV Staff, WCTV, August 24, 2025, 11:18 AM EDT, City of Valdosta reports sewer overflow spilling into Sugar Creek on Saturday: As of Sunday morning, the city said the manhole is still overflowing,

Map: Sewage Overflow Valdosta, 2025-08-25 —WCTV

The unidentified reporter talks mostly about the recent meeting of the Florida Rivers Task Force with Valdosta officials, but the story has a few seconds tacked on about the most recent sewage spill.

The WCTV story was also carried by WALB, Albany, GA, KFDA, Amarillo, TX, and WBTV, Charlotte, NC.

Valdosta is notorious for sewage yet again.

This morning’s Valdosta press release:

City of Valdosta Responds to Sanitary Overflow

At approximately 1:00pm, on Saturday, August 23, 2025, Central Lines personnel from the City of Valdosta Utilities Department were dispatched to investigate a potential sanitary sewer overflow (SSO) near 1212 Wainwright Drive. Upon arrival, crews identified two sanitary sewer manholes discharging into the adjacent Sugar Creek.

Wainwright Drive manhole still spewing, 2025-08-24, 13:00 –Scott Jay

The Utilities Department immediately notified the relevant divisions, who promptly responded to assess the situation. It was determined that the overflow resulted from excessive Infiltration and Inflow (I&I) causing hydraulic overload of the sanitary sewer collection system, this is due to recent significant rain events with City of Valdosta receiving 8+ inches of rain over a 24-hour period.

Closeup of manhole lid ajar, 2025-08-24, 13:00 –Scott Jay

The manhole is currently still in state of overflow due the hydraulic overload of the system. Personnel continue to monitor the situation. All appropriate authorities have been notified.

This section of sanitary sewer is scheduled for rehab in the upcoming weeks to help mitigate future issues at this location.

The City of Valdosta is committed to protecting public health and the environment. The Utilities Department continues to invest in the upgrading of aging infrastructure, as well as in proactive maintenance, monitoring programs, and the development of new strategies to mitigate the impacts of severe weather and I&I.

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

Well, one good thing about this spill is now we’ll get some daily water quality testing from Valdosta for a week, because GA-EPD requires that after a major spill.

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

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