Sewer Spill at 64 Merk Davis Road

PRESS RELEASE – During the week of May 7-13, 2023, the Ellijay-Gilmer County Water & Sewerage Authority experienced an issue at the Authority’s Wastewater Treatment Plant which would constitute a spill according to Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GA EPD) guidelines. 

The spills were of short duration; however, there were occurrences on May 9, 10, and 12, 2023

The location of the spill was at the Wastewater Treatment Plant located at 64 Merk Davis Road at the plant’s outfall to the Coosawattee River. 

The cause of the issue is speculation as there were several factors which could of adversely affected the operation of the plant. 

Planned equipment outages for major rebuild projects (underway at the time of offending occurrences), and prolonged high influent flows during the offending occurrences could have contributed to the issue.

The spill consisted of a total of 2,936 Kg of TSS (over 3 days) and 784.16 Kg of BOD (on one day).

Staff at the Wastewater Treatment Plant took all measures to reduce the hydraulic loading of the plant during these occurrences. 

Air was shut off of the aeration basins so they could be utilized to settle out excess solids.  Drains were opened on the filters so that the partially treated water would be sent back to the head of the plant and staff increased RAS (return of solids to aeration) in order to get more solids safely out of the clarifiers. 

Leachate treatment was temporarily suspended during the occurrences.    

Staff will be performing extra sampling/testing upstream and downstream of the outfall in accordance with GA EPD protocol and a sign will be placed for public notice.