Notification of Sanitary Sewer Overflow on Jeffries Creek
For Immediate Release – August 1, 2024
Notification of Sanitary Sewer Overflow on Jeffries Creek
Media Contacts:
Josh Whittington, Utilities Director – 843-665-3236 or jwhittington@cityofflorence.com
FLORENCE, SC – In July 2008, the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SC DES) required wastewater collection system operators, including the City of Florence, to enact public notification programs related to sanitary sewer overflows. In response to this regulatory requirement, the City developed a policy for releasing information on overflows of 5,000 gallons or more.
On Tuesday, July 23, 2024, the City of Florence was notified, and a utility crew responded to a reported wastewater overflow from a manhole near 3330 Palmetto Street adjacent to the City of Florence Trail System. Staff located the sewer manhole and assessed the situation. Due to high water levels, access was limited, but when accessible, staff applied hydraulic cement to seal the discharge points, and then added mud cement to prevent further discharge. Utilities staff attributes the overflow to the high-water levels in Jeffries Creek due to a ten-year storm event with heavy rains from thunderstorms during the week of July 22nd. Additional rains that week kept water levels high creating conditions for continued overflow.
DHEC was notified of the sanitary sewer overflow on August 1, 2024. It is estimated that 972,000 gallons of combined stormwater and wastewater were discharged from the surcharging manhole and flowed into Jefferies Creek. City crews have now cleaned visible solids at the overflow site and used lime to disinfect the affected area according to DHEC guidelines, and a sign indicating sewer overflow was posted. The analyzed bacteriological samples from Jeffries Creek document that there is no threat to public health or the environment.
The City of Florence has earmarked necessary funding and is working with their utility engineer, AECOM, to evaluate and assess the gravity sewer lines and manholes along Jeffries Creek. The city will use their recommendations to develop a project for rehabilitating the sewer lines and manholes in low-lying areas, which will reduce the infiltration of stormwater into the sewer system and drastically reduce future occurrences of sanitary sewer overflows. The project is slated to be bid later this year.
The information provided is pursuant to the City of Florence’s policy of public notification for sanitary sewer overflows. For further information, please contact Josh Whittington, Utilities Director at (843) 665-3236 or SC DHEC at (843) 661-4825.
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