NEWS RELEASE
June 29, 2018
Immediate Release
City Crews Respond to Minor Sewage Spill
SAVANNAH, GA (June 29, 2018) — City of Savannah crews responded to a minor sewage spill at 8:00 a.m. today at 303 W. River St and at Indian Street/MLK Jr. Blvd. An estimated 7,650 gallons was released before the spill was corrected at 8:25 a.m. This is classified as a minor spill under state Environmental Protection Division guidelines.
The spill was due to overflowing manholes caused by a failure of contractor-operated sewer by-pass pumps which surcharged the sanitary sewer collection system on West River Street, while also causing an overflow at the discharge manhole at Indian Street/MLK Jr. Blvd. The City's Sewer and Lift Station Maintenance staff, in coordination with the contractor, corrected the by-pass pump operations, mitigated the sites, and placed lime on areas that came in contact with the discharge. City Jet-Vac trucks pumped and removed residual sanitary sewer from affected areas.
Spill notifications were placed at the spill sites, Hutchinson Island, Fort Jackson, and the Houlihan Bridge Boat Ramp. All state and local agencies were notified as required by state guidelines.