Adel spilled 9,000 gallons of raw sewage Monday, from its sewage collection system, due to equipment failure. Although downstream from that sewage is the Little River between Cook County Boat Ramp and Folsom Bridge Landing, apparently it had little or no effect on the Withlacoochee River.

Adel Spill to Little River

According to the December 11, 2020, GA-EPD Sewage Spills Report,

Adel spill in GA-EPD Sewage Spills Report

the location was 807 W 9th St.

Map: Adel station corner W 9th St. @ Joy St.

Google street view clearly shows what looks like an Adel sewage station past the end of W 9th St. on Williams Investment Company land near I-75.

Street view Adel station W 9th St. Joy St.

According to the report it went into “Morris Creek.”

Adel spill, Morris Creek, Morrison Creek
in the WWALS map of the Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail.

Apparently that means Morrison Creek, but I’ve named the little branch across I-75 Morris Creek.

Adel spill to Folsom Bridge Landing

That goes into Morrison Creek, then into Wells Mill Creek, then into the Little River downstream of Cook County Boat Ramp @ GA 76 and Pine Bluff. Which is only about 4 river miles upstream from Folsom Bridge Landing @ GA 122. Which is 25 river miles upstream from Troupville Boat Ramp @ GA 133, which is about 2,000 feet upstream from the Withlacoochee River.

The first place anybody was testing downstream Monday was US 84, and Valdosta got very clean results there that day, and only slightly elevated on Wednesday. Madison Health got clean results downstream Tuesday, ditto WWALS Thursday. So apparently Adel’s sewage had little effect once it got to the Withlacoochee River.

Still, it would be better if Adel did not spill. Also if it reported to GA-EPD in fewer than four days after the spill. At least Adel reported a location specific enough to see the most likely site.

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

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