LaGrange reports minor wastewater spill

Published 12:41 pm Tuesday, March 18, 2025

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LaGrange sewer and water crews quickly handled a minor wastewater spill at the East Industrial Lift Station around 7 p.m. Monday night.

According to reports submitted by Water Quality Manager Jim Russell the spill occurred as a result of a maintenance crew member forgetting to turn the pumps back on after doing routine maintenance on the station. 

Plant operators were alerted to the spill by a high-level alarm showing up on the SCADA system and the spill was stopped within five minutes.

An estimated 1,000 gallons of wastewater was discharged nearest to the Long Cane Creek waterway but the spill did not reach the stream.

After the alarm went off on the SCADA system, the maintenance crew was notified to return to the station to turn the pumps back on. The spill stopped as soon as the pumps were back in operation.

Spills are classified as minor when less than 10,000 gallons of wastewater are discharged. Major classification applies when over 10,000 gallons are discharged.