Grease causes sewage spill from Gwinnett manhole

Nearly 2,700 gallons of sewage spilled from a manhole in Lawrenceville on the evening of Dec. 4, the Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources said.

The spill occurred at 370 Twin Brooke Way and was reported to the water department at 6:01 p.m. Crews stopped the overflow by 8 p.m. that night, with 2,690 gallons spilling over two hours. Some of the sewage entered an unnamed tributary of the Yellow River.

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The spill was caused primarily by grease, with wipes, paper and other debris contributing to the cause, the Department of Water Resources said. The department warns against using “flushable” wipes, as they may not properly break down, causing clogs and spills like this one.

The department raked the area and spread lime in order to mitigate the effects of the spill. Signs were posted to alert residents to the spill and the Georgia Environmental Protection Division was notified. Exposure to raw sewage generally poses the risk of diseases and infections including gastro-enteritis and E. coli.

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