A nearly 6-million-gallon sewage spill reported by the Gainesville Department of Water Resources
(DWR) is being blamed on Friday’s torrential rains which amounted to six inches and even more in some places around town. The overflow occurred at the Flat Creek Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) and also killed an unknown number of fish and other aquatic life.
“This flood event overwhelmed the influent pump station at Flat Creek WRF, resulting in an estimated 5.97 million gallons of wastewater being discharged before the facility returned to normal operations,” city spokeswoman Christina Santee said Tuesday.
“As a result, dissolved oxygen levels in Flat Creek fell below levels that could support some aquatic life,” Santee added. “Field investigations have revealed the impacts of this rain event did cause an event classified as a fish kill by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD). At the time of the field investigation Monday, July 27, numerous species of aquatic life were observed throughout Flat Creek between the WRF and Lake Lanier. Lake Lanier did not show any signs of the spill or stressed aquatic life.”
Santee said the flooding also caused a discharge from an existing manhole near Autumn Lake Drive that was estimated to be approximately 1,200 gallons. This overflow was stopped and the lift station resumed normal operations.