County Reported Sewer Spill, Announces Drought Response

Oconee County reported its second sewer spill of the year to the Georgia Environmental Protection Division last week after a sewer force main break in a wooded area behind Cooperville subdivision off Union Church Road south of Oconee County High School.

According to a news release from the county, the Oconee County Water Resources Department was notified of a sewer odor in Copperville subdivision at about 11 a.m. on Oct. 14, 2019.

Water Resources Department workers found sewage coming from a sewer force main in a wooded area behind Copperville subdivision, according to the news release sent out just before 3 p.m. on Oct. 15.

The sewage was flowing into a small creek, according to the news release. The news release does not identify the creek, but the area is near the headwaters of Calls Creek, which flows through Watkinsville and then on to the Middle Oconee River.

The county blamed “pipe fatigue” for the break in the sewer main and said approximately 6,090 gallons of waste water was released into the creek. A sewer spill is classified as "minor" by the state when less than 10,000 gallons is discharged.

The county sent out an unrelated news release on Tuesday announcing that the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) has classified Oconee County at Level 1 Drought Response.

The classification requires the county to begin a public information campaign to help citizens better understand drought, its impact on water supplies and the need for water conservation.

For more information, please go to Oconee County Observations.