Collapsed Sanitary Sewer Main infiltrates Storm Sewer and One-Mile Branch Creek

On Wednesday, June 21, 2023, the City of Valdosta Utilities Department received a call about murky water coming from a storm drain into One-Mile Branch Creek. After an intensive investigation and video inspections, the City Utilities Department located a collapse in an eight-inch sanitary sewer main. Due to the collapse and its proximity to an underground storm sewer main, sewer water had infiltrated the storm pipe, and subsequently, a diluted undetermined amount discharged from this storm pipe into One-Mile Branch Creek.

As a safety precaution, the Utilities Department hired a local contractor to plug the storm drain, and rerouted the discharge to the nearby sanitary sewer system until repairs are complete Saturday, June 24, 2023. Georgia EPD has been notified of the issue, and signs were posted nearby at One-Mile Branch Creek to alert citizens to avoid the creek until further notice. 

Sewer system rehabilitation and preventing sewer spills has been, and will continue to be, the city’s top priority through the ongoing Collection System Maintenance Program, which includes Manhole Rehab, the Smoke Testing Program, Sewer Main Lining, and Sewer Main Replacement. In addition, the Utilities Department has an ongoing River Sampling Program that tests waters at different locations down the Withlacoochee River and has continued to install generators at the lift stations to ensure uninterrupted operation during power failures.

In addition to the programs listed above, in 2020, the Utilities Department initiated two additional programs, The “Creek Crossing” program, and the “Cap the Cleanout” program, to help locate Infiltration and Inflow in the Collection System as well. These programs are designed to specifically check each manhole and/or sewer line on or near water to verify proper operation and to ensure each house has their cleanout cap installed, and the cleanout is in working order.

The city will continue its ongoing efforts to improve the infrastructure of the sewer system to eliminate these issues in the future. For more information, contact Utilities Director Brad Eyre, at 229-259-3592 or beyre@valdostacity.com.