{"id":57,"date":"2013-03-04T08:35:46","date_gmt":"2013-03-04T13:35:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/2013\/03\/withlacoochee-wastewater-treatment-plant-fully-operational.html"},"modified":"2013-03-04T08:35:46","modified_gmt":"2013-03-04T13:35:46","slug":"withlacoochee-wastewater-treatment-plant-fully-operational","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/2013\/03\/withlacoochee-wastewater-treatment-plant-fully-operational.html","title":{"rendered":"Withlacoochee Wastewater Treatment Plant Fully Operational"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Received today. -jsq<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<table style=\"float:right;width:105px;\"  >\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 105px; height: 78px;\nbackground-image: url(http:\/\/www.valdostacity.com\/_gfx\/cmn\/footer_bg.gif);\nbackground-repeat: no-repeat;\nbackground-position: -20px -18px;\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<p>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<\/p>\n<p>Release #03-13-02<br \/>\n<br \/>\nMarch 3, 2013<\/p>\n<p>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.valdostacity.com\/Index.aspx?page=270&amp;recordid=2238&amp;returnURL=%2findex.aspx\"><br \/>\nWithlacoochee Wastewater Treatment Plant Fully Operational<\/a>\n<\/p>\n<p>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/98706376@N00\/8527131509\/\/\" title=\"Withlacoochee Wastewater Treatment Plant\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" style=\"float:right;border:none;\"  alt=\"Withlacoochee Wastewater Treatment Plant\"  class=\"at-xid-6a0120a58214e4970b017c3749ebc9970b\" src=\"\/blog\/images\/6a0120a58214e4970b017c3749ebc9970b-pi.jpg\" \/><\/a><br \/>\nAt approximately 1:30 p.m. today, March 3, the Withlacoochee<br \/>\nWastewater Treatment Plant was brought online and returned to<br \/>\nnormal operation, after a loss of function for only three days<br \/>\ncompared to the nine days of complete loss of function experienced<br \/>\nin the flood of 2009. Today, the river receded  to the point where<br \/>\nthe temporary by-pass pumps could be connected to the existing<br \/>\nvalves. The system was turned on, became fully operational and began<br \/>\nfull treatment capabilities.\n<\/p>\n<p>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/topics\/water\/vldssw\/img6.html\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" style=\"float:right;border:none;\"   class=\"at-xid-6a0120a58214e4970b017744385f7c970d\" src=\"\/blog\/images\/6a0120a58214e4970b017744385f7c970d-pi.png\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/topics\/water\/vldssw\/\"><br \/>\nLessons learned from the 2009 flood<\/a> resulted in proactive measures<br \/>\nwhich include the following:\n<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The installation of bypass pumps, pipes and valves to utilize in<br \/>\nthe event of an emergency or act of God.\n<\/li>\n<li>In 2009, the berm only protected the pump station, which did not<br \/>\nprevent flooding of the chemical building, the chlorine contact<br \/>\nbuilding,  the filters and the belt presses. The plant&#39;s<br \/>\nelectrical system was destroyed in the flooded area and the filters<br \/>\nand belt presses were inoperable.\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/topics\/water\/vldssw\/img3.html\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" style=\"float:right;border:none;\"   src=\"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/topics\/water\/vldssw\/thumb3.png\"><\/a><br \/>\nIn this event, the electric system, chlorine cylinders, de-chlorination<br \/>\nsystem and all flooded areas were turned off to avoid the<br \/>\ndamage that was experienced in 2009.\n<\/li>\n<li>In this event, the biological, natural occurring bacteria that<br \/>\nare used in the treatment process were saved so that the system<br \/>\ncould treat  wastewater immediately when it was turned back on. In<br \/>\n2009, the natural occurring bacteria were washed out of the plant<br \/>\nas a result of the continuous pumping during the event.\n<\/li>\n<li>In this event, the plant was fully operational in three days.<br \/>\nIn 2009, the plant had a complete loss of function for nine days and<br \/>\nwas not fully operational for over a month.\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\nThe city&#39;s drinking water supply is in no way\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/water.usgs.gov\/ogw\/aquiferbasics\/ext_floridan.html\"><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"float:right;border:none;\"   class=\"at-xid-6a0120a58214e4970b017d4172dba6970c\" height=\"204\" src=\"\/blog\/images\/6a0120a58214e4970b017d4172dba6970c-pi.gif\" width=\"201\" \/><\/a><br \/>\naffected by the<br \/>\nrecent flood event. The<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/qpublic7.qpublic.net\/qpmap4\/map.php?county=ga_lowndes&amp;parcel=0058++001&amp;extent=2547302+298643+2554102+308135&amp;layers=parcels+streetnum+roads+parcel_sales\"><br \/>\nWithlacoochee Wastewater Treatment Plant<br \/>\nflooded in its current location<\/a> in the unincorporated area of<br \/>\nLowndes County, which is at the bottom of a 1,500 square mile<br \/>\ndrainage basin and the source of most of the flood waters received<br \/>\nat the plant and throughout the city. The city&#39;s Water Treatment<br \/>\nPlant is located on Guest Road, over 15 miles northeast of the<br \/>\nWithlacoochee Wastewater Plant, and the river flows south from the<br \/>\nWastewater Treatment Plant. There is no known connection between<br \/>\nthe Withlacoochee River south of the Withlacoochee Wastewater<br \/>\nTreatment Plant and the<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/water.usgs.gov\/ogw\/aquiferbasics\/ext_floridan.html\"><br \/>\nFloridan Aquifer<\/a>, where the City of<br \/>\nValdosta withdraws its drinking water for its citizens.<br \/>\nFurthermore, the city&#39;s seven wells, which withdraw the water<br \/>\nfrom the aquifer 300 feet below the surface, are located near the<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/98706376@N00\/8528246284\/\/\" title=\"Valdosta Water Treatment Plant\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" style=\"float:right;border:none;\"  alt=\"Valdosta Water Treatment Plant\"  class=\"at-xid-6a0120a58214e4970b017c3749ebd4970b\" src=\"\/blog\/images\/6a0120a58214e4970b017c3749ebd4970b-pi.jpg\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/qpublic7.qpublic.net\/qpmap4\/map.php?county=ga_lowndes&amp;parcel=0146A%20105&amp;extent=2574044+325361+2594432+338865&amp;layers=parcels+streetnum+roads+parcel_sales\"><br \/>\nWater  Treatment Plant, adjacent to and within Freedom Park<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n<p>\n<a href=\"\/blog\/2013\/03\/what-the-sewer-system-is-currently-doing-to-our-backyards-gabe-fisher.html\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" style=\"float:right;border:none;\"   class=\"at-xid-6a0120a58214e4970b017c3749ebdb970b\" src=\"\/blog\/images\/6a0120a58214e4970b017c3749ebdb970b-pi.jpg\" \/><\/a><br \/>\nWith the flood waters beginning to recede, the city has initiated<br \/>\ncleanup efforts in low-lying and flooded areas, which include<br \/>\ndisinfection where necessary. Cleanup efforts will continue for<br \/>\nseveral days or until all affected areas have been disinfected and<br \/>\ncleaned. Until then, the city continues  to encourage the public to<br \/>\navoid any contact with the flood waters for their health and<br \/>\nsafety. For more information, contact the<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.valdostacity.com\/Index.aspx?page=270&amp;returnURL=%2findex.aspx\"><br \/>\nPublic Information  Office<\/a><br \/>\nat (229) 259-3548.\n<\/p>\n<p>\n-end-\n<\/p>\n<p>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.wwals.net\/2013\/01\/07\/our-wwals-watersheds-2\/\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" style=\"float:right;border:none;\"   src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farm9.staticflickr.com\/8357\/8357596732_d08a52cb69_n.jpg\"><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.valdostacity.com\/index.aspx?recordid=172&amp;page=195\"><br \/>\nSementha Mathews<\/a><br \/>\n<br \/>\nPublic Information Officer<br \/>\n<br \/>\nCity of Valdosta<br \/>\n<br \/>\nP.O.  Box 1125<br \/>\n<br \/>\nValdosta, GA 31603<br \/>\n<br \/>\n(229) 259-3548\n<\/p>\n<p>\n[050407 001]<br \/>\n<br \/>\nSign up for E-News at<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.valdostacity.com\/publicinformation\"><br \/>\nwww.valdostacity.com\/publicinformation<\/a><br \/>\nand stay in tune with the<br \/>\nnews and events happening within our city.\n<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>\n-jsq<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Received today. -jsq FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Release #03-13-02 March 3, 2013 Withlacoochee Wastewater Treatment Plant Fully Operational At approximately 1:30 p.m. today, March 3, the Withlacoochee Wastewater Treatment Plant was brought online and returned to normal operation, after a loss of function for only three days compared to the nine days of complete loss of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[48,40,14,49,16,50,8,2,20,21,22,32,52,53,54,133,55,177],"tags":[8720,8717,8704,8721,8706,8722,65,59,209,404,8701,8699,8702,8710,12,7,56,8711,8712,8715,403,61,8724,8725,60,63,62,6,8726,8742,8727,8748,58,57],"class_list":["post-57","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-code-enforcement","category-community","category-economy","category-elections","category-environment","category-epa","category-georgia","category-government","category-law","category-planning","category-politics","category-pollution","category-splost","category-sustainability","category-valdosta-city-council","category-vdt","category-water","category-wctv","tag-code-enforcement","tag-community","tag-economy","tag-elections","tag-environment","tag-epa","tag-fema","tag-flood","tag-floridan-aquifer","tag-freedom-park","tag-georgia","tag-government","tag-lake","tag-law","tag-lowndes-area-knowledge-exchange","tag-lowndes-county","tag-most","tag-planning","tag-politics","tag-pollution","tag-sementha-matthews","tag-sewage","tag-splost","tag-sustainability","tag-tax","tag-tim-carroll","tag-utilities","tag-valdosta","tag-valdosta-city-council","tag-vdt","tag-water","tag-wctv","tag-withlacoochee-river","tag-withlacoochee-wasterwater-treatment-plant"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=57"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=57"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=57"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=57"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}