The City of Douglas Wastewater Treatment Plant is reporting a failure to maintain compliance with total suspended solids limits due to recent heavy rains. The spill occurred on October 8, 2026, from 7:30 a.m. until October 9, 2026, at 7:30 a.m. at the City of Douglas Wastewater Treatment Plant. The spill flowed into an unnamed tributary of the Seventeen Mile River.
The effluent reading was more than 1.5 times the effluent limit which qualifies as a spill and approximately 11.7 million gallons were reported. As a precaution, it is recommended that citizens have no contact with the affected stream water until after October 22, 2026.
The waterway will be sampled both upstream and downstream of the spill to ensure that the water quality has not been adversely affected. Sampling will be conducted for dissolved oxygen concentration, pH, temperature, and fecal coliform.
Questions may be directed to Kevin Davis, Project Manager 912-389-3444.
