A Friday traffic accident is being blamed for a 6,500-gallon sewage spill into a creek in Gainesville that flows into Lake Lanier.
A release from the city of Gainesville said a crash near a sewage lift station on Thompson Bridge Road near Hubert Stephens Road caused a power outage at the station. Alarms at the station went off and Gainesville Department of Water Resources officials located the sewage spill just before 2:00 p.m.
The spill was stopped and flow was restored at the station within six minutes of officials spotting the spill. The spill, which officials estimate was around 6,500 gallons, reportedly went into nearby Squirrel Creek, which flows into Lake Lanier.
Officials assessed the area and did not find any dead or stressed animals in the water. Lime was applied to the ground in the area to relieve the odor.
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources' Environmental Protection Division was notified of the incident and signs have been posted in the area.
No injuries were reported.
