SAVANNAH – The City of Savannah has reported a violation to Georgia Environment Protection Division (GAEPD) related to the discharge of treated effluent (wastewater) from the Wilshire Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) into the Savannah River at the discharge point under the Talmadge Bridge.
At this time, testing has confirmed there is no major threat to public health.
On Sept. 25, 2025, City staff conducted routine testing of treated effluent from the Wilshire WRF that indicated a concentration of Biological Oxygen Demand (CBOD5) that exceeded the threshold limit requiring public notice by approximately 1.5%. All other tested parameters of the effluent met required permit limits.
The quantity of effluent discharged relative to elevated BOD concentrations would constitute the amount discharged until the next routine testing for the purpose of this report and that amount has been established at 8.7 million gallons. The resulting oxygen impact to the river was simultaneously mitigated by surplus oxygen injected by the City into the Savannah River at other facilities.
The cause of the elevated BOD within the effluent discharge was likely the result of City operations staff taking one of the two aeration basins off-line for maintenance at the Wilshire WRF, and the inability of the single operating basin to immediately achieve the performance needed for the biological process to be fully accomplished.
The City returned the second aeration basin at the Wilshire WRF to service on Sept. 25, and the subsequent effluent samples tested by the City staff indicate that all effluent concentrations being discharged to the Savannah River were back into compliance to coincide with restart of the second basin.
The City’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Discharge Permit for the Wilshire WRF requires that this report of a violation related to the discharge of treated effluent to the Savannah River be classified as a major sewer spill per applicable regulatory protocols. Accordingly, the Georgia EPD guidelines classify this incident as a major spill, which is defined as a discharge in excess of 10,000 gallons.
The City is distributing spill notifications via a news release and placing signage at the following three locations: (1) outfall under the Talmadge Bridge; (2) Safe Harbor Savannah Yacht Center; and (3) River Street Ramp at Lincoln Street. All agencies including the Georgia EPD, Chatham County Health Department, and the City of Savannah Office of Communications, were notified per applicable regulatory reporting requirements.
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