For Immediate Release
Date: July 24, 2015

City of Savannah crews responded to a minor sewage spill at the east on-ramp onto eastbound I -16 at Chatham Parkway at 5:00 p.m. Thursday, July 23. The spill was the result of a force main failure caused by roots from a large pine tree. The total volume discharged was estimated to be 7800 gallons. The amount of this spill is classified as a minor spill under State Environmental Protection Division guidelines.

The spill was corrected by 8:15 p.m. City crews turned the station off and utilized both City contracted and City of Savannah jet-vacuum trucks to handle sewage flows coming into the lift station to stop flow through the force main. The I-16 eastbound on-ramp at Chatham Parkway was closed and the pine tree was removed and crews excavated and repaired the force main. City crews blocked flows to the storm main that drains eventually to the Musgrove Canal to the Springfield Canal and by-passed flows from the storm system to City of Savannah sanitary sewer collection system. Spill notifications will be placed at spill site and at storm system drainage system to lake at 2003 Chatham Center Drive. All agencies required by the State EPD were notified.