Columbus water officials could face stiff fines from a major sewage spill into the Chattahoochee River over the weekend.
Weekend rainfall flushed more than 1.5 million gallons of sewage into the Chattahoochee and nearby Lake Oliver in western Georgia.
Steve Davis with Columbus Water Works says more than five inches of rain overwhelmed the city's sewer system at two points. But, he says the spill likely is not a public health risk:
Columbus Water has already filed a report to the Enviromental Protection Division, with a meeting between officials soon to come. The EPD says Columbus Water Works could face fines, based on completion of a full review.
Weekend rainfall flushed more than 1.5 million gallons of sewage into the Chattahoochee and nearby Lake Oliver in western Georgia.
Steve Davis with Columbus Water Works says more than five inches of rain overwhelmed the city's sewer system at two points. But, he says the spill likely is not a public health risk:
"We'd be very surprised. We don't suspect that even through our water quality sampling that we'll see much impact. From a public perspective, I wouldn't be concerned."Davis says sewage that overflowed into the river was already well-diluted, and diluted further by strong river flow.
Columbus Water has already filed a report to the Enviromental Protection Division, with a meeting between officials soon to come. The EPD says Columbus Water Works could face fines, based on completion of a full review.
