City Responds to Collapsed 18-inch Sewer Main between West Hill Avenue and Summerlin Street

Published 5:21 pm Monday, February 24, 2014

An immediate emergency response to a collapsed sewer main over the weekend resulted in a prompt elimination of the spill and no loss of sewer services to local customers.

On Friday, Feb. 21, at approximately 11 p.m., a Valdosta Utilities Department crew was cleaning an 18-inch diameter sewer main on Summerlin Street just north of W. Hill Avenue, near the intersection of Myddleton and Hawkins Streets.  During the second attempt to clear blockages from this sewer main, the main became filled with dirt indicating that the sewer line had collapsed between Summerlin Street and W. Hill Avenue.  A field assessment of the situation dictated emergency repairs to include bypass pumping around the collapsed section of sewer main.  Due to the depth of this sewer main (approximately 20-feet in depth) and the extent of repairs needed, it was determined that this work would have to be performed by a licensed, underground contractor.  A local contractor was on site Saturday, Feb. 22, at approximately 6:45 a.m., to coordinate the necessary repairs.

A bypass pumping system was in place and operational by 4 p.m. on Saturday.  Extra traffic controls along streets adjacent to the work area were coordinated with the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) to reroute neighborhood traffic around the work area. A second collapsed section of the sewer main was discovered on Saturday during ongoing field investigations. Repairs to this section of main will also be included in the contractor’s work.

The sewage from two manholes on Myddleton Street entered adjacent wetlands, which are considered Waters of the State.  It is estimated that 56,000 gallons of sewage entered these wetlands before bypass pumping eliminated the surcharges from these manholes.  It is important to note that sewer lines contain various types of customer discharge including dishwater, bathwater, water from washing machines, sinks, etc., and not just sewage.   

An initial report of this incident was filed with the Environmental Protection Division (EPD) early Saturday morning and will be followed by a more detailed report today.  There have been no calls on sewer service disruptions in this area or surrounding areas, and none are anticipated. The permanent repairs will take several days or more, due to the size of the manholes and pipe needed to complete this work; however, the emergency repairs made on Saturday have eliminated the spill.

Signs cautioning the public concerning this spill have been placed in the area affected by the overflow.  The discharge is being treated with necessary disinfectants by city staff.  The public should avoid contact with the storm water collection drains near the intersection of Myddleton and Hawkins Streets and with the wetland just south of this intersection for the next several days.  Upstream and downstream water sampling began today in this area.

For more information, contact Environmental Manager John Waite at (229) 259-3592 or at jwaite@valdostacity.com.