We all drink with straws from the groundwater here in the U.S. southeast coastal plain.
So surface water interchange with groundwater produces problems for city and county drinking water treatment, and for E. coli contamination of private water wells. Continue reading
Update 2025-03-27: Pictures: Expert paddle, Troupville to Paul DeLoach private boat Ramp, Withlacoochee River 2025-03-22.
Apparently some of the recent rains caused some damage at Valdosta’s Withlacoochee Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) Outfall.
![[Erosion at the WWTP Outfall, 2025:03:22 10:57:48, 30.8363739, -83.3591081]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-03-22--wwtp-outfall/erosion-crop.jpg)
Erosion at the WWTP Outfall, 2025:03:22 10:57:48,
30.8363739, -83.3591081
The sign is also missing.
Floridians: please note that this is the cleaned-up outflow after being treated by the plant. And this erosion probably does not affect that.
Continue readingUpdate 2025-03-29: Clean Withlacoochee and Alapaha Rivers 2025-03-26.
It’s a good weekend for boating, if you are experienced and like water high and fast.
WWALS and Valdosta Utilities got good water quality results both upstream and downstream of Sugar Creek for Wednesday, and there has only been a sprinkle of rain since.
No new sewage spills were reported in Georgia or Florida.
No rain is predicted until Monday.
The Withlacoochee River at Pinetta is too high to paddle, as is the Suwannee at Fargo and the Ichetucknee and Santa Fe Rivers near where they join.
Avoid those spots, and happy high and fast water fishing, swimming, paddling, or boating this weekend.
If you are experienced, join us on Saturday, March 22, 2025, for the Expert paddle with jon boats: Troupville to Knights Ferry, Withlacoochee River.
The Mayor and Chairman’s Paddle has been rescheduled to April 19th.
For these and other WWALS outings and events, see: https://wwals.net/outings/
![[Clean Withlacoochee River and Ty Ty Creek 2025-03-19, No new sewage spills, No rain this weekend]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-03-19--wq/many.jpg)
Clean Withlacoochee River and Ty Ty Creek 2025-03-19, No new sewage spills, No rain this weekend
These pictures of Quitman’s large sewage settling pond appear to show evidence of recent sewage runoff from these ponds, as well as holes in the fence and a rather rotted pier. They were taken Tuesday, July 26, 2022. Water quality testing downstream the day before indicates something contaminated Okapilco Creek and the Withlacoochee River downstream after rains a day before that.
For months I have been asking for a tour of Quitman’s sewage facilities to see if conditions have improved.
![[Quitman sewage settling ponds: Spills? 2025-07-26, None reported, WQ monitoring says maybe]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2022-07-26--quitman-large-settling-pond/many.jpg)
Quitman sewage settling ponds: Spills? 2025-07-26, None reported, WQ monitoring says maybe
On the preceding Sunday, July 24, 2022, there had been more than an inch of rain on Quitman. I find no Quitman reports for July 2022 in the GA-EPD Sewage Spills Report.
Yet Valdosta’s water quality monitoring for that Monday got 1,000 cfu/100 mL E. coli for Okapilco Creek at US 84 (US 221), which is downstream of those Quitman settling ponds and upstream of the nearest dairy. Valdosta got worse on the Withlacoochee River downstream of Okapilco Creek at Knights Ferry Boat Ramp: 2,700. Continue reading
These are aerial drone pictures and movies of the Quitman, Georgia, Land Application Site (LAS) or sprayfield.
It’s NPDES Permit No. GAJ020022.
We do not know exactly when the drone images were taken, but sometime between about June and November 2022.
I have repeatedly asked for a tour of Quitman’s wastewater facilities, over many months. So far, their contractor has only delayed doing that.
Here’s a playlist of two drone videos:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKwQ5xfKf-QyC13CJd1la5Hov1W-JlMmC&si=pfGZGdcSEUHg2gj3
You’ll find the entrance with signs saying keep out at 12318 E US 84, Quitman, GA 31643. On US 84 east of Quitman, turn right just before Okapilco Creek, in Brooks County. See the pictures of that entrance I took July 5, 2024. Continue reading
Update 2025-03-21: 2025-03-21: Clean Withlacoochee River and Ty Ty Creek 2025-03-19.
Avoid the Withlacoochee River this weekend, and perhaps beyond.
Valdosta Utilities got too-high E. coli at GA 133 and US 84, and WWALS tester Russ Tatum also got too high at Holly Point, down near the Suwannee River, all for Wednesday.
![[Dirty Withlacoochee River 2025-03-12, More rain coming 2025-03-15, First Flush, Avoid the rivers]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-03-12--wq/many.jpg)
Dirty Withlacoochee River 2025-03-12, More rain coming 2025-03-15, First Flush, Avoid the rivers
No new sewage spills were reported in Georgia or Florida.
The big rain Sunday probably did first flush, which means it washed the woods the wildlife had been using as a latrine. And I’d bet it washed some remaining sewage residue out of Sugar Creek. The bypass is operational, but lots of sewage spilled in there before the bypass.
Whatever the cause, the Withlacoochee River is dirty. And more thunderstorms are coming this Sunday.
Also the Withlacoochee is way too high to paddle above the Little River Confluence, and also downstream at Pinetta. The Santa Fe River is too high in spots, as well.
If you want to go fishing, swimming, paddling, or boating, avoid the Withlacoochee River and much of the Santa Fe River. Try the Alapaha River or the Suwannee River.
Join us on Saturday, March 22, 2025, for the Chairman and Mayor’s Paddle: Troupville to Spook Bridge, Withlacoochee River 2025-03-22. Continue reading
Update 2025-03-19: Rescheduled: Chairman and Mayor’s Paddle: Troupville to Spook Bridge, Withlacoochee River 2025-04-19.
Rescheduled to March 22 due to high water.
Join us for a leisurely paddle on the Withlacoochee River: three miles to an early takeout, or another eight miles to Spook Bridge, with a mid-point lunch stop.
The first stretch is along the Little River frontage recently purchased by Lowndes County for Troupville River Camp and Nature Park. The right bank the whole way is Brooks County.
The second stretch goes by Valdosta’s cleaned up Outfall from its Withlacoochee Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) on the left bank in Lowndes County.
Paddle with Valdosta Mayor Scott James Matheson and Lowndes County Chairman Bill Slaughter.
Shuttle vans provided by Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority (VLPRA).
Early takeout provided by Paul DeLoach.
Spook Bridge takeout and midpoint provided by The Langdale Company.
Thanks to a generous grant from Georgia Power, this outing is free for everyone.
Thanks to Phil Hubbard for leading this expedition and Phil Royce for being sweep.
When: Gather 8 AM, launch 10 AM, end 4 PM, Saturday, March 22, 2025
Put In:
Troupville Boat Ramp,
19664 Valdosta Hwy, Valdosta, GA 31602. I-75 exit 18, west on GA 133 (St. Augustine Road) away from the Valdosta Mall, at the traffic light for Val Tech Road, turn left down to the boat ramp, in Lowndes County.
By the boat ramp, see the WWALS water trail signs about the WWALS
Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail (WLRWT).
Update 2025-03-14: Dirty Withlacoochee River 2025-03-12.
For the Withlacoochee River this week, WWALS got good results upstream and down, and Valdosta Utilities got good results for the Withlacoochee River at GA 133 and US 84.
We have no new water quality test results for Sugar Creek. Chances are that the previous sewage spill has washed out, although more testing would be good.
WWALS got excellent results for the Alapaha River at Naylor Park Beach.
No new sewage spills were reported in Florida or Georgia.
Saturday is supposed to be mostly rainless, before thunderstorms Sunday. River levels are good.
So happy fishing, swimming, paddling, and boating Saturday!
![[Clean Alapaha and, Withlacoochee Rivers, 2025-03-05, 2025-03-06]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-03-06--wq/many.jpg)
Clean Alapaha and, Withlacoochee Rivers, 2025-03-05, 2025-03-06
Join us tomorrow for the
Troupville Withlacoochee Upstream Chainsaw Cleanup 2025-03-08
https://wwals.net/?p=67153
Or come on down to the WWALS Booth at
Azalea Festival, One Mile Branch, Drexel Park, Valdosta, GA 2025-03-08.
https://wwals.net/?p=67089
And Saturday week join us for the
Mayor and Chairman’s Paddle.
https://wwals.net/?p=66833
Update 2025-03-07: Clean Alapaha and Withlacoochee Rivers 2025-03-06.
After GA-EPD forgot to list sewage spill locations or causes for several days, we can finally see where and why Ashburn had its late-January and mid-February spills into Hat Creek, which runs to the Alapaha River.
Plus an amusing update on Pinehurst, which is outside the Suwannee River Basin.
![[Ashburn spill locations and causes, in GA-EPD Sewage Spills Report 2025-02-26]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-02-26--ga-epd-sewage-spills-report/fbmany.jpg)
Ashburn spill locations and causes
The locations are listed as different: “Rockhouse Rd. Lift Station” for the 2025-01-31 spill and “Rockhouse Rd and Sylvia Dr.” for the 2025-02-14 spill. But from time to time GA-EPD lists the latitude and longitude of spills, and these two have the same latlong: 31.691673, -83.632582.
That’s at this manhole at the corner of Rockhouse Road and Silvia Drive: Continue reading
Update 2025-03-07: Clean Alapaha and Withlacoochee Rivers 2025-03-06.
Update 2025-03-01: Ashburn spill locations and causes in GA-EPD Sewage Spills Report 2025-02-26.
We have no new water quality test results for Sugar Creek. However, since there has been no rain, chances are it’s not bad.
Meanwhile, Valdosta Utilities got good results for the Withlacoochee River at GA 133 and US 84.
And WWALS got excellent results for the Withlacoochee River at Holly Point, down near the Suwannee, for Franks Creek at GA 122 west of Hahira, and for the Alapaha River at Lakeland Boat Ramp and Naylor Park Beach.
No new sewage spills were reported in Florida or Georgia, although GA-EPD did post some clarification about the most recent Ashburn spills; stay tuned for a separate post about that.
Saturday and Sunday are supposed to be sunny. The Withlacoochee River is still a bit high, but not if you know what you’re doing.
So happy fishing, swimming, paddling, and boating this weekend!
![[Clean Franks Creek, 2025-02-26, Clean Alapaha & Withlacoochee, Rivers 2025-02-27]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-02-27--wq/many.jpg)
Clean Franks Creek, 2025-02-26, Clean Alapaha & Withlacoochee, Rivers 2025-02-27
![[River water and groundwater interchange interacts with drinking water treatment in Georgia and Florida]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-03-26--groundwater-interchange/fbmany.jpg)
![[Quitman Land Application Site, Sprayfield by Okapilco Creek, Drone aerials in 2022, 12318 E US 84, Quitman, GA 31643]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2022-11-16--quitman-las/fbmany.jpg)
![[Chairman and Mayor's Paddle, Troupville to Spook Bridge, Little River, Withlacoochee River 2025-03-22]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-03-22--mayor-chairmans-paddle/fbmany.jpg)