In a public notice required by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, the department said heavy rains – totaling as much as 5 to 8 inches in some areas Sunday and Monday — caused extremely heavy flows into the city’s Messerly Wastewater Plant.

The resulting overflow into Phinizy Ditch, which empties into Butler Creek and eventually into the Savannah River, totaled about 400,130 gallons, although much of that volume was diluted by the heavy rains.

Corrective actions planned to avoid future recurrences include accelerating the procurement and installation a high-capacity influent pump.