TIFTON – After a series of rain during the New Year’s holiday weekend, the city experienced three different spills.

There were two minor spills and one major spill, said Thomas Coker, operations supervisor ESG operations.

Coker said the spills were from excessive rainfall nearly reaching five inches in 48 hours, not including a previous two inches of rain.

The major spill occurred at a manhole behind 1363 E. 82 West Highway. Coker estimated it began about 7 p.m., Jan. 2, and stopped 10 p.m., Jan 3, releasing 138,000 gallons total.

According to Coker, the spill entered the New River. The area was cleaned and disinfected.

The first minor spill occurred at the manhole next to Georgia Museum of Agriculture lift station in the GMA complex and was approximately 6,000 gallons. 

“At 11 a.m. on Jan. 3, the spill entered Agrirama Lake which overflows into an unnamed tributary of the New River basin,” Coker said. “The area is in the process of being cleaned up and disinfected with hydrated lime.”

Coker said a second minor spill occurred at a manhole on 26th Street and Ridge Avenue and was approximately 450 gallons, adding the spill entered the storm drainage system of Tifton flowing to the New River. The area will be cleaned and disinfected.