Oconee County, on the first day of the year, had its first major sewer spill for 2019.
A break in a forced sewer line on Malcolm Bridge Road resulted in a major sewer spill of approximately 65,000 gallons of wastewater into Barber Creek, according to a news release issued by the county on Jan. 2.
The Oconee County Water Resources Department was notified at 8 p.m. on Jan. 1 of sewer odor and discharge of sewage coming from the ground near 1920 Malcom Bridge Road, the news release said.
Water Resources Department personnel determined that a break in the sewer main was due to “pipe fatigue,” the county reported.
The sewer main was repaired and restored to normal use by 5 a.m. on Jan. 2, according to the news release.
Report To State
Following state regulations for a major spill, the county reported the incident to the Georgia Environmental Protection Division and the Oconee County Environmental Health Department, the news release stated.
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| Picture From Site Provided By County |
The county also posted signs at the spill area site.
The Water Resources Department began testing for upstream and downstream water quality, the news release stated.
According to state requirements, the laboratory results must be reported to state Environmental Protection Division.
2018 Spills
In September the county reported a major spill on Rocky Branch Road in the same general area as the Jan. 1 spill.
That September spill resulted in the release of 21,225 gallons of waste water into a tributary of Barber Creek.
That spill also was due to a break in the sewer main because of “pipe fatigue,” according to a news release from the county at that time.
The county’s Land Application System site is on Rocky Branch Road and is fed by a sewer lines in the area..
The September spill was the fourth major spill reported by the county in 2018.
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