Spill and Overflow Notifications

Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSO) is a term used to describe two types of events. The first is a sanitary sewer spill, while the second is a sanitary sewer overflow.

By Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) definitions, a sanitary sewage "spill" is an event in which sewage escapes from the conveyance system and enters the waters of the State. A sanitary sewage "overflow" is an event in which sewage escapes from the conveyance system, but is contained before reaching the waters of the State. By definition, "waters of the State" are ponds, creeks, streams, rivers, lakes, etc. -- including storm drains that carry potential pollutants into "waters of the State."

Spills and overflows are further broken down into two classifications -- major and minor. An SSO is classified as "minor" when less than 10,000 gallons of sewage is discharged, while a "major" SSO results in over 10,000 gallons of sewage being discharged. A major spill also can result from permit violations at a wastewater treatment plant. A significant fish kill within the receiving waters also is classified as a major spill, regardless of the volume of sewage that entered the receiving waters.

The EPD requires that all Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW) report spills; however, EPD does not require POTW's such as the MWA to report overflows. Nevertheless, the MWA's leadership feels that it is beneficial and even necessary to report all overflows to the public and the local health department, in order to exercise an open and transparent form of governance to garner public trust. In addition, reporting all overflows, regardless of their severity, helps protect the safety and health of the general public from the potential hazards associated with raw sewage.

The Macon Water Authority strives to maintain excellence in its Sanitary Sewer Conveyance System -- which has been selected as the state's Collection System of the Year on more than one occasion by the Georgia Association of Water Professionals. By striving for excellence in its sewer system operations, the MWA hopes to lessen the environmental impacts and health hazards resulting from the unintended discharge of raw sewage during SSO events.

MWA customers can always assist the Authority in its endeavors to prevent or reduce SSOs by not pouring grease down the drain and by educating children on the possible dangers of playing around and throwing things into manholes.

Archived spill and/or overflow information can be obtained from the MWA Sewer Conveyance Department.

Overflow Notification for 4869 Wesleyan Woods Drive on 10/8/2017

Spill Notification for 3535 Williamson Road on 10/4/2017

Overflow Notification for 751 Hendley Street on 9/18/2017

Overflow Notification for 3300 Macon Tech Drive on 9/18/2017

Spill Notification for 1695 Foster Place on 9/11/2017

Spill Notification for 2034 Napier Avenue on 9/8/2017

Overflow Notification for 2275 Gray Highway on 8/25/2017

Overflow Notification for 891 Gray Highway on 8/4/2017

Spill Notification for 2820 Pierce Drive South on 8/4/2017

Overflow Notificcation for 4775 Owens Street W on 7/31/2017

Overflow Notification for the dead end of Clinton Street on 7/8/2017