Wastewater Woes: 2 Spills Hit City in One Week

The city of Tallahassee has reported two separate wastewater spills within a single week, prompting environmental monitoring. The most recent incident, occurring on June 15, involved a release of approximately 6,500 gallons of treated wastewater onto the Southeast Farm's spray field. This spill was attributed to a compromised valve at the T P Smith Water Reclamation Facility. The affected water was absorbed by the soil, and no other bodies of water were impacted, according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP).

Earlier in the week, on June 5, a spill of about 500 gallons of untreated wastewater occurred in a utility easement on Connie Drive. This overflow originated from a faulty manhole and affected Lafayette Creek. Crews addressed the obstruction, cleaned and disinfected the area, and water quality sampling is ongoing. The FDEP is overseeing the investigation and response to both wastewater incidents.