Complaint Details

Complaint Number

33590

DWR Program Area

WPC

Date Received

7/31/2014

How Received

Ask TDEC

Concerning

Sewage Bypass / Overflow

Concerning (Other)

Assigned on

8/1/2014

Record Last Updated

19-JUL-2019 07:14AM

Site ID: 5968
Site: Water Authority of Dickson County -Jones Creek STP
Location: 1198 Rock Church Road
City: Dickson
Description: Treatment of municipal sewage
County: Dickson
EFO Name: Nashville
Site Owner: Water Authority of Dickson County

Status

Issue Resolved

Date Investigated

8/1/2014

Responsible Party

Water Authority of Dickson County

Completed on

8/1/2014

Referred To

Referred on

Photos

Yes

Complaint Description and Writeup

Complaint: Be advised of a major raw sewage spill at the Lime Kiln Road pumping station. Location is directly across the street from a quarry operation. The piping systems are probably suspect for the quarry seismic shocks. No down stream residents have been advised of the problem even thugh spring water supply systems and recreational use of the stream is a common practice. Neither the Water Authority or the County Mayor's office are answering their phones. HELP ***
At 1:19 PM on 7/31/14, MRT received a voice mail message from Tim Swaw, WADC CS Supt. The message was to call about problems at the Gum Branch PS (36.04126/-87.31260) (PS refered to as Lime Kiln Road PS above). MRT called Swaw & found that while making upgrades to this PS, a SSO occured. WADC was using a pumper truck to haul to the STP but it could not keep up & 3000+ gal overflowed to Beaverdam Creek. Swaw said he did not see any problems in the creek at that time. MRT asked that Swaw check DO D/S of the PS. ***
On 8/1/14, MRT called Swaw for info on the PS SSO. Repairs were completed about 4:15 PM on 7/31/14. Swaw now thinks the SSO was 10000+ gal. He was not able to get a DO meter yesterday but is getting one now & will check the stream. MRT called AER to check Beaverdam Creek at Hogan Rd & Hwy 96. ***
About 9:45 AM on 8/1/14, Swaw called to report DO at the PS was 8.16 ppm & 100' D/S DO was 8.08 ppm, 200' D/S DO was 8.05 ppm & at Hogan Rd DO was 7.97 ppm. MRT asked Swaw to check further D/S at Hwy 96 & Cathy Hollow Rd. ***

8/1/14, AER investigated & checked Beaverdam Creek at several locations downstream of the Gum Branch Rd. (Lime Kiln Rd.) pump station, met & talked with Tim Swaw of WADC, & checked the pump station & overflow point with him. The overflow occurred from the last manhole upstream in the line into the station & flowed directly into Beaverdam Crk. at a point across the channel from the pump station. Pumps had been shut down to install a flow meter, the pumper truck broke down & problems with piping offsets delayed completion. A 2nd pumper did not arrive in time to pump down the wet well & prevent an overflow. Sewage solids/debris had been removed from the overflow point, & lime had been applied over contaminated soil. There was some pooled wastewater remaining on a gravel bar in the channel, Mr. Swaw agreed to have the pumper truck recover this ASAP. There were dark, discolored areas downstream & some light deposits of sewage solids in pools for several hundred feet downstream. There were live fish observed both upstream & downstream of the overflow point, & no dead or distressed fish or aquatic life were observed downstream. The flow had already become clear in areas other than pools, & almost all of the wastewater had been carried downstream & diluted. ***

Previously that morning, farther downstream at the Hogan Road crossing I had observed dark, discolored pools upstream of the bridge, & similar discolored pools downstream, but no impact to fish/aquatic life. Also that morning, checks of the stream even farther downstream at Hwy 96, Beechwood Dr., & Cathey Hollow Rd. crossings found no evidence of wastewater impact, & no adverse impact to fish or aquatic life. Live fish were observed at all 5 points checked along the stream. AER ***

Complaint

Location based on SITE_ID

Investigation Results

Complaint Description and Writeup