The Withlacoochee River once again tested bad at GA 133 in Valdosta Utilities results, but good at US 84, both for Monday.

WWALS got even better results for Wednesday downstream in Florida, four miles upstream from the Suwannee River.

WWALS also got excellent results for the Santa Fe River, also for Wednesday.

No new sewage spills were reported in the Suwannee River Basin in Florida or Georgia, although we now have an amount for last week’s Tifton spill; see below.

I’d still avoid the Withlacoochee River upstream of the Little River Confluence.

So at your own risk, happy paddling, swimming, fishing, and boating, where-ever you can find enough water, and if you can avoid the rains predicted this weekend.

This image is an illustration. Scroll down for the details.

Withlacoochee River dirty upstream 2026-05-18, clean downstream and clean Santa Fe River 2026-05-20

Follow this link for the WWALS composite spreadsheet of water quality results, rainfall, and sewage spills in the Suwannee River Basin in Georgia and Florida:
https://wwals.net/issues/testing/#results

The image below is a current excerpt from that spreadsheet.

Chart: Withlacoochee Dirty Upstream Clean Downstream Clean Santa Fe River, 2026-05-20 –WWALS composite chart of water quality results
For context see:
https://wwals.net/issues/testing
 
Previous WWALS water quality reports are here:
https://wwals.net/issues/testing/#results
 
Also follow that link for the underlying spreadsheet of water quality, sewage spills, and rainfall from Georgia and Florida sources for the Suwannee River Basin.

The numbers in the chart boxes indicate E. coli levels as colony-forming units per 100 mililiters (cfu/100 mL), according to Georgia Adopt-A-Stream bacterial monitoring protocols:
Zero (0) is what we want to see and often we do on the Alapaha and upstream on the Suwannee Rivers.
From 1-125 is within long-term average limits according to U.S. EPA and Georgia and Florida state agencies.
From 126-409 long-term is not good, and is likely to make some people sick.
From 410-999 is likely to make some people sick; try not to get that water on you.
From 1,000 and up: high alert; best not to get close to that water without gloves; wash clothes afterward.

The letters before the numbers indicate the source of the datapoint, as in W100 means 100 cfu/100 mL found by a WWALS tester.

W: WWALS Watershed Coalition, Inc. (WWALS) Suwannee Riverkeeper
V: Valdosta, GA
L: Lowndes County, GA
Q: Quitman, GA
SGRC: Southern Georgia Regional Commission
SRWMD: Suwannee River Water Management District
FDOH: Florida Department of Health
FDEP: Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Rain: From USGS and UGA and other gauges.

New River

The Tuesday GA-EPD Sewage Spills Report shows 600 gallons for the May 13th Tifton spill, and recognizes it flowed into the New River.

Table: Tifton 2026-05-13 Spill updated to 600 Gallons 2026-05-19 –GA EPD Sewage Spills Report

Withlacoochee River

For Monday, May 18th, Valdosta Utilities got 550 cfu/100 mL at the GA 133 (St. Augustine Road) bridge over the Withlacoochee River. That’s higher than the 410 one-time test limit.

They also got 120 at US 84, which is a good result.

Table: GA 133 and US 84, Withlacoochee River, 2026-05-18 –Valdosta Utilities

Downstream in Florida for Wednesday, WWALS tester Russ Tatum got zero (0) for Holly Point, four miles upstream from the Withlacoochee River.

He noted, “With scattered rain in the area this week the level has come up some, with increased tannins and silt. Still good results though.”

Holly Point, Withlacoochee River @ NE Withla Bluffs Way 2026-05-20 –Russ Tatum for WWALS

Santa Fe River

WWALS testers Bob Mills and Kurt Hurzeler for Wednesday again got 33 cfu/100 mL at Mills Dock on the Santa Fe River, a bit upstream from Poe Springs.

They used a magnifying glass on their plates to be sure.

Also:
air temp: 22.7
water temp: 26.1
pH 8.0
Dissolved Oxy 6.2
Conductivity 0.52

Mills Dock, Santa Fe River @ NW 282nd Dr 2026-05-20 –Bob Mills and Kurt Hurzeler for WWALS

Water quality testing training and funding

WWALS testers Suzy Hall and John S. Quarterman reviewed the WWALS results. Such review is part of the WWALS standard ongoing testing quality analysis.

If you want to get trained by WWALS Water Quality Testing Trainer Gretchen Quarterman to be a WWALS water quality tester, please fill out the form:
https://wwals.net/?p=47084

Thanks to Joe Brownlee, Don Hutchinson, and Georgia Power for another generous grant for water quality testing equipment and materials.

You or your organization could also donate to the WWALS volunteer water quality testing program.

There are more images below.

 -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/

HP

Plates, Holly Point 2026-05-20 –Russ Tatum for WWALS

MillsDock

Mills Dock Form, Santa Fe River @ NW 282nd Dr 2026-05-20 –Bob Mills and Kurt Hurzeler for WWALS

Plates, Mills Dock 2026-05-20 –Bob Mills and Kurt Hurzeler for WWALS

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