A malfunctioning pump station along Landrum Road at Trickum Creek on Fairburn’s south side was responsible for the Aug. 5 release of nearly 128,000 gallons of raw sewage into the waterway that feeds into Line Creek. The spill was several miles from the Fayette County water intake site in south Peachtree City that was not in use at the time.

A notice posted at the site by Fulton County, the owner of the system, stated that a malfunctioning pump station had caused the release. The notice said the spill had been reported on Aug. 5 at 7:30 a.m. and had been corrected at 10:15 a.m.

Categorizing it as a major spill, the notice indicated that 127,875 gallons of sewage had been released. The posted advisory also noted that the area may be contaminated from the sewer overflow.

The spill area is located near the small bridge over Trickum Creek. The creekbed is approximately 30-40 feet downhill from the origin of the spill. Some in the area reported a strong sewage odor and the presence of a significant quantity of lime that had been applied to the ground around the spill area.

Trickum Creek originates in Fairburn and flows south until it merges into Line Creek north of Palmetto Road. Line Creek flows south to Peachtree City, forming the division line between Fayette and Coweta counties.

Though Fayette County Water System draws water from Line Creek for processing and consumer use at its facility in the Crosstown area, County Administrator Jack Krakeel said Monday that water was not pumped from the creek last week. The water system since before the spill, and subsequent to it, had been pumping water from the Lake Horton reservoir, Krakeel said.

Krakeel said Line Creek near the water intake area was tested Monday with no indication of any sewage present.

Krakeel said the county only learned of the spill on Monday, adding that Fulton County had not notified Fayette about the spill. Krakeel said he would be checking with Fulton County about that lack of notification.

login to post comments