VALDOSTA — An estimated 375 gallons of sewage dumped into a tributary of Dukes Bay Canal Monday, according to city officials.

A spokesperson for the city said the wastewater spill near Old Statenville Road and Arlington Ave. was the result of a manhole overflow at the 1100 Block of Old Statenville Road around 11 a.m. Monday.

The public is being cautioned to avoid contact with the tributary and the Environmental Protection Division and Health Department have been notified of the spill.

City officials have issued a notice of violation of the city’s Sewer Use Ordinance to a property owner, saying that the spill was the result of a buildup of rags and grease from a poorly maintained private sewer system discharging into a City of Valdosta sewer main. 

According to a statement released by the city Tuesday morning, the incident is the second instance in the last two years in which a sewer spill at the location was caused by what the Valdosta Utilities Department called, “the improper maintenance of this internal private sewer system.”

A spokesperson said, if another spill occurs at the location, the Utilities Department will initiate court proceedings against the property owner.

City crews reportedly cleaned the area, recovered wastewater and applied lime to disinfect the affected areas.