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Third wastewater spill since Jan. 4
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Hinesville’s Water Pollution Control Plant on Fort Stewart has sent more than 18.7 million gallons of “partially treated wastewater” into Taylors Creek so far in January, according to city press releases announcing three separate spills.

The most recent spill was Jan. 12, when 7.62 million gallons were released into the creek “as a result of an equipment failure,” according to a press release issued sent Tuesday.

Another spill occurred Jan. 10, when 5.65 million gallons of “partially treated wastewater,” went into the same creek, according to a press release issued Jan. 10.

The first announced spill of 2018 happened Jan. 4, according to the city, when 5.47 million gallons were released into Taylors Creek.

State law requires wastewater treatment plants to announce such spills. Any spill over 10,000 gallons is considered major. In each case, officials blamed “equipment failure” for the spills. Each press release announcing the spills said the plant “is back in compliance and awaiting parts to complete the repairs.”

Each press release also stated the discharges did not pose a risk to public health or safety. Requests for more information were not responded to by press time. Hinesville operates the plant on Hero Road on post under an agreement with the Army.

The plant services both civilian and military users. According to the most recent annual report on the city’s website, published in 2014 by CH2M, the city’s former public works providder, the plant on Fort Stewart has been in operation for 30 years. It has undergone upgrades since then. The city hired ESG Operations in 2016 to take over running its public works.

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