Oconee County on Tuesday experienced its second sewer spill in the last two months and third in the last 11 months into an unnamed tributary of McNutt Creek near where the tributary crosses under Tanglebrook Drive at the entrance to Tanglebrook subdivision.
The break in the force main on Tuesday resulted in a release of 17,411 gallons of untreated sewage into the tributary.
The break in the line occurred at approximately 6:30 p.m., according to the county announcement of the spill, and repair was completed by 10 p.m.
A break in the same line on Feb. 13 just upstream from the break on Tuesday resulted in the release of 34,713 gallons of untreated sewage into the creek. A break in that line on June 1 of last year released 20,332 gallons of untreated sewage into the creek.
The 12 inch force main is a central part of the county’s sewage system.
Adam Layfield, Director of the Oconee County Water Resources Department, said on Wednesday that the spill resulted from an 18 inch crack at a joint in the PVC pipe.
The spills in February and last June also resulted from breaks in the pipe at joints in the line.
County Administrator Justin Kirouac said on Wednesday that “it’s clear that segment has an issue and we are moving on replacing it.”
Details of Spill
According to the announcement from the county at 1:05 p.m. on Wednesday, Water Resources personnel responded to the break shortly after it occurred “and determined that the broken pipe caused” the release of the untreated sewage into the tributary near where it flows into McNutt Creek.
“Necessary measures were taken immediately to contain the flow and repair the line,” the announcement states. “The repair was completed and flow was restored to the force main by 10 p.m.”
The Georgia Environmental Protection Division and the Oconee County Environmental Health Department were notified of the spill, according to the announcement, “and testing is being conducted for upstream and downstream water quality.”
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| Two Sections Of Pipe, Sign 4/9/2025 |
A sign installed at the site says the spill occurred at 4 p.m.
Layfield, in an email message at 3:20 on Wednesday, said “Currently, we do believe this is the result of over-belling.”
All three breaks in the line have occurred as a result of splits in the bells where one end of the pipe is inserted into another. The line was installed seven years ago.
When the pipe is inserted into the connecting bell beyond what is recommended by the manufacturer, this is called “over-belling.” Over-belling can cause stress on the receiving pipe.
“We believe we have the problem segment located,” Layfield said in his email. “We are working with contractors and engineers. At this time, engineers are drafting a plan to bypass and ultimately replace the problem sections.”
Importance Of Force Main Line
The sewer line that runs along the tributary that separates Tanglebrook subdivision and the Pinewood Estates South mobile home park is a crucial part of the county’s sewer system.
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| Sign At Break 4/9/2025 |
Sewage is pumped through that line from the large pump station between Parkway Boulevard and McNutt Creek just west of the bridge carrying Epps Bridge Parkway across McNutt Creek.
McNutt Creek forms much of the northern border of Oconee County with Clarke County, and a gravity feed sewer line runs along McNutt Creek from that pump station nearly to Bogart.
That sewer line along McNutt Creek is the collector for sewage from the county’s commercial hub along Epps Bridge Road, the Oconee Connector, and Virgil Langford Road.
Sewage from that pump station at Parkway Boulevard and Epps Bridge Parkway moves through pipe up the unnamed tributary of McNutt Creek to another pump station behind the shopping center where Trader Joe’s is located.
From that station, sewage is pumped under SR Loop 10 to a line running along Daniells Bridge Road and Experiment Station Road to Calls Creek and ultimately to the county’s treatment plant on Calls Creek on the north side of Watkinsville.
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