TYBEE ISLAND, Ga. () — The third sewage spill of the summer occurred during the heavy storms on Saturday.
The City of Tybee reported that approximately 40,000 gallons of a sewage and stormwater mixture spilled into Horsepen Creek following a weekend of over five inches of rain, which saturated the ground.
The city said it took immediate control, but despite efforts, manholes from Jones Avenue, 8th Street and other locations spilled.
“Crews were active throughout the afternoon to halt the spill and worked into the evening to clean up,” stated the city. “Pre-positioned sandbags helped in reducing the spill’s impact.”
The Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GEPD) and the Health Department were notified of the incident, along with other agencies.
In response to previous spills, the city has raised manholes by four feet, installed new castings, sealed manholes to prevent water intrusion, cleaned clogged drains, and hired a third-party company to use high-pressure jet vac trucks to clean sanitary sewer lines at 12 locations.
The City of Tybee also mentioned plans for future projects to enhance the island’s infrastructure and decrease flood risks, which include rehabilitating and expanding sewer lines.
