Ashburn and Quitman sewage spills reported 2024-05-22

Update 2024-05-31: Clean Withlacoochee and Santa Fe Rivers plus High Springs sewage spill 2024-05-30.

Ashburn had a 250,000-gallon sewage spill into Hat Creek to the Alapaha River Sunday a week ago, and a 2,500-gallon spill into Ashburn Branch into the Little River the day before, both because of “Wet weather”.

Quitman had a 300-gallon sewage spill at Brooks County High School Wednesday a week ago into a ditch that drains to Okapilco Creek.

[Ashburn 250,000-gallon sewage spill into Hat Creek, Alapaha River 2024-05-19 and 2,500-gallon spill into Ashburn Branch, Little River, plus Quitman 300-gallon spill 2024-05-22]
Ashburn 250,000-gallon sewage spill into Hat Creek, Alapaha River 2024-05-19 and 2,500-gallon spill into Ashburn Branch, Little River, plus Quitman 300-gallon spill 2024-05-22

These spills appeared this Tuesday, May 28, 2024, in the GA-EPD Sewage Spills Report.

Why they took so long to report is a mystery.

Ashburn’s excuse of “Wet weather” is wearing thin. Yes, there were big rains those days, but Ashburn needs to fix its sewer system so rains don’t cause spills.

[Ashburn 2024-05-18, 2024-05-19, Quitman 2024-05-22 in GA-EPD Sewage Spills Report 2024-05-28]
Ashburn 2024-05-18, 2024-05-19, Quitman 2024-05-22 in GA-EPD Sewage Spills Report 2024-05-28

This map shows Hat Creek running through Ashburn to the Alapaha River.

[Map: Ashburn, Hat Creek, Alapaha River, WWALS Suwannee River Basin map]
Map: Ashburn, Hat Creek, Alapaha River, WWALS Suwannee River Basin map

Highlighted on this map is the location of the 250,000-gallon Ashburn spill into Hat Creek.

Ashburn’s MLK Lift Station is also visible to the west, where the 2,500-gallon spill went into Ashburn Branch.

[Map: Ashburn Rockhouse Road and Sylvia Drive 250,000 gallon spill 2024-05-19 in ARWT]
Map: Ashburn Rockhouse Road and Sylvia Drive 250,000 gallon spill 2024-05-19 in the WWALS map of the Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT)

Here you see Brooks County High School towards the upper left. 300 gallons was probably not enough to reach Okapilco Creek.

[Map: Quitman Brooks County High School Spill 2024-05-22 in WLRWT]
Map: Quitman Brooks County High School Spill 2024-05-22 in the WWALS map of the Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail (WLRWT)

I wonder did Quitman have any other spills lately?

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

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