The winter storm that moved through North Georgia this week, dumping nearly four inches of rain on Gainesville, contributed to a 10,000-gallon sewage spill on the north side of town
City officials said Friday the spill was detected about 9:30 Thursday morning in the area of Honeysuckle Lane.
"...the city of Gainesville detected high sanitary flow levels in the sewer mains leading to Linwood Water Reclamation Facility," according to a news release issued Friday morning by the city. "The Department of Water Resources was alerted by both a high-level alarm in a lift station, as well as an alarm from a surcharging manhole near Honeysuckle Lane."
City crews responded to the area where they discovered three overflowing manholes.
"Prior to the spill, the area had received an extraordinary amount of rainfall the previous day and overnight, saturating the ground," according to the release. "The rain-soaked ground allowed water to enter the sanitary sewer mains in excess of their normal carrying capacity, causing the overflow."
An estimated 10,000 gallons of "highly-diluted" wastewater spilled "within the area" entering Lake Lanier. City staff utilized all three of its wastewater vacuum trucks, in addition to that of a private contractor, in order to alleviate the spill. "Two overflowing manholes were remedied by 1:30 p.m., and the final overflow ceased at 5:22 p.m."
The spill area was assessed and no dead or stressed aquatic life was found. All on-site water-quality testing of the overflowing water showed all parameters as normal. The area was posted as required by the state of Georgia. The Georgia Environmental Protection Division was notified late Thursday afternoon.
