HCWA Notifies EPD of Sewer Overflow Due to Failing Pipe
The Henry County Water Authority (HCWA) has notified the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division (EPD) of a sanitary sewer overflow that took place on Tuesday, Nov. 22, on Grover Turner Way in McDonough. Authority officials determined that the likely cause of the overflow was a blocked sewer line clogged by grease and gravel that entered the sewer conveyance system from a failing ductile iron pipe.
Approximately 19,215 gallons of domestic wastewater was suspected to have overflowed onto the ground from one of the utility’s manholes at the site. Upon being notified by a customer of the overflowing manhole, HCWA crews identified the clogged sewer line and pressure jetted it to clear the blockage and stop the spill. Crews then cleaned the site and spread lime to neutralize the impact.
The Authority has placed signs around the area to notify the public of the overflow, although there are no expected health risks because of the incident, since the overflow did not affect or reach any neighboring waterways, such as a creek, river or pond, or storm drain leading to such a water resource.
In accordance with Georgia EPD’s “Rules and Regulations for Water Quality Control,” public utilities such as the HCWA must report to the regulatory agency any sewer overflow that exceeds 10,000 gallons. As a result of the incident, the HCWA has planned an inspection and repair of the damaged ductile iron pipe upstream from the site, which caused the sewer line blockage and subsequent manhole overflow.
For more information regarding this incident or HCWA sewer line maintenance and operations, please contact Tara Brown, HCWA Manager of Sewer Line Maintenance, at tara.brown@hcwa.com.
To help prevent sewer line clogs and subsequent sewer spills and overflows, please do not pour grease down your drain or flush non-dispersible items, such as rags, cloths, wet wipes, etc. Please visit this link more information on grease education, and this link for more information on what not to flush down your toilet.
Thank you for helping us protect our precious water resources!
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Media contact: Chris Wood, Ph.D.
P: 770-757-1681
E: chris@jwapr.com or john.wood@gcsu.edu