GADSDEN COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) — Multiple sewage spills have been reported at wastewater treatment facilities in Gadsden County to due heavy rain and flooding from Tropical Storm Sally.
According to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, approximately 50,000 to 75,000 gallons of wastewater was released Wednesday from the Town of Havana's wastewater treatment plant.
Officials say wastewater began to overflow at the facility headworks at around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Then at around 2 p.m. the facility began overflowing and kept overflowing until 2 a.m. on Thursday.
The facility received over five inches of rain and three inch of that came in two hours.
Officials have reported an estimated spill volume of 50,000 to 75,000 gallons.
The Quincy Sewage Disposal Plant at 300 North GF&A Drive also experienced a sewage spill on Wednesday afternoon, according to FDEP.
The overflowing began around 1 p.m. on Wednesday and, about 30 minutes later, the facility's raw sewage wet well began overflowing.
The facility overflowed until around 3 a.m. Thursday when the flow finally dropped low enough for the pumps to keep up.
According to Quincy city manager Jack L. McLean, 200,000 gallons of sewage spilled.
McLean told ABC 27 that the pumps were not able to handle all the water then Tropical Storm Sally dropped on the area in such a short time.
However, he said that the city has contained it and staff are continuing to work on it. There is not threat to drinking water at this time, McLean said.
Regulatory authorities and customers have been notified about the spill.
In a release, the FDEP said the spill will be cleaned of debris and lime will be applied. In addition, they say water quality samples will also be collected.
