Heavy rains, flooding cause hydraulic overload at wastewater treatment plant

Aug. 26, 2013

VALDOSTA, Fla. — The total suspended solids result for the effluent sample collected was 1.5 times higher than the weekly average.

VALDOSTA, Fla. — Due to continued heavy rains in Valdosta and surrounding areas in recent days, moderate flooding of the Little and Withlacoochee Rivers caused a hydraulic overload at the Withlacoochee Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), according to a public notice from WWTP.

As a result of a peak hourly flow of 15.58 million gallons, the incident led to a discharge of total suspended solids in excess of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit limit, stated the release.  

The total suspended solids result for the effluent sample collected August 22, 2013 was 203 milligrams per liter, which is greater than 1.5 times the weekly average of 45 milligrams per liter allowed by the NPDES permit, noted the release.

Read the entire press release here.