Private utility outlines protective measures in place per consent order
Private utility outlines protective measures in place per consent order
A sewage spill leading to the waters of Lake Oconee in February has led to a fine being levied against Piedmont Water as well as corrective action per a consent order given to the company.
Piedmont Water, the primary water and wastewater operations provider for the Lake Oconee area, bills itself as being one of the state’s premier water service providers despite repeated complaints from both the gated and general communities in the area.
Last February saw its first significant spillage of over 260,000 gallons of raw sewage into neighboring tributaries to the lake. The spill was discovered to have occurred at Piedmont’s Engh lift station, next to The Creek Club golf course.
The lift station, among 20 stations in Reynolds, is used to move wastewater from lower to higher elevations within wet-well systems. Also known as sewer pumping stations that pump sewage into treatment facilities, these systems contain critical valves, pumps, and electrical systems necessary to effectively move solids and liquids.
According to Piedmont Water CEO Brett Hurst, a faulty electrical surge or incorrect caliber setting rendered the system incapable of alerting technicians to the problem.
It wasn’t discovered until Feb. 27, when the spill was contained and the problem area treated with lime. It was five days before it was discovered to have moved into a tributary of the lake.
According to policy, Piedmont filed the appropriate Environmental Protection Division (EPD) notice, put up signage, remedying immediate corrective action items, and started water sampling. The EPD defines a major spill as any in excess of 10,000 gallons.
Jessica Jones, program manager for EPD’s Athens regional office, earlier reported that as of March 6, all indications from Piedmont’s monitoring showed the lake water samples were within normal limits.
However, the EPD is tasked with conducting a formal report that would cite any further enforcement monitoring and measures for Piedmont in an uncirculated consent order given to the company.
A preliminary observational report shows the EPD visited the spill site on March 24 with Hurst and his manager of water operations for Greene and Putnam counties at the site located off Sand Ford Road in Greensboro. They confirmed then that the Engh lift station is one of the major lift stations for them in the area.
A report prepared on March 29 following their visit also confirmed that, on the evening of Feb. 23, there was a power surge at the station causing the power to be shut off.
Due to the sudden off-and-on of the power, the control systems that control the two vital pumps stopped communicating, and alert systems failed to operate. Because the alarm systems were not triggered, operators for Piedmont were unaware of a significant loss of operations.
Since that time, Hurst confirmed with the EPD that they have added one additional day for walk-through monitoring to three days a week and that every lift station would be on this new checkpoint system.
Additionally, Hurst stated in the report that, after Piedmont working hours, the monitoring of these imperative systems defaults to an after-hours process that ensures 24/7 monitoring of all the lift stations.
“We do have some hurdles to address with after-hours monitoring,” Hurst said. “Our software setup is in place, but we still have to execute some necessary changes. The consent order will confirm these changes. However, we are not in a position to disclose fines at present.”
The preliminary visit report also confirmed upgrades needed to the lift stations. The lift stations will be manufactured with fiberglass due to the significant amount of natural gasses that have been damaging the concrete of the manholes. Hurst confirmed in the report that these are continuous upgrades made to the manholes and that the Engh lift station is the priority to be upgraded.
All lift stations will eventually have these upgrades.
Jones confirmed a fine has been levied against Piedmont along with the identification of corrective measures but would not disclose the amount.