VALDOSTA, Ga. (WTXL) - In Valdosta, city officials are hoping to recover from a sewer spill that took place over the weekend at the Withlacoochee Wastewater Treatment Plant.
"We're capable of handling about 30 million gallons. In a nutshell, we got above 30 million gallons and that excess water overflowed," said Darryl Muse, the Valdosta Utilities director.
The unprecedented rainfall in Valdosta caused the treatment plant to ingest more than 10 times the normal amount of rainwater and sewage. Plant officials say that most treatment plant systems would be overcome by such large flow.
"Just building something to handle a hundred million gallons of water is sometimes, often, not practical," said Muse.
The plant flow peaked at 32 million gallons and caused a spill into the Withlacoochee River.
"The creeks overflowed their banks in most cases. The streets were flooded," Muse explained. "That water made it's way into the sewer system and our systems pumped that water to the treatment plant and it was more water than the treatment plant was able to store."
Although there was some sewage, majority of the spill was storm water.
"You know it is mixing with about 10 percent of wastewater," said Muse. "So, we don't want to sugarcoat it and say there wasn't an effect. There was an effect."
Plant workers say that they won't be sure exactly what that effect is until the water recedes, but they are looking to city council for additional upgrades.
"The system did what it was supposed to do," said Muse. "It found it's way to the treatment plant, but it was just so much flow getting to the treatment plant that it overcame design capacity of the plant."
The plant was rebuilt, the infrastructure upgraded, and now they're requesting additional software and extra generators.
"It will tell the treatment plant that 'I'm about to send you 500,000 gallons of water' and it should be there in 20 minutes so the treatment plant operators, who are there 24 hours a day, can start to make adjustments to the treatment plant so they'll be better prepared to accept that," said Muse.
City hall is expected to discuss the possible additions tonight at their work session.
