Albany officials determine source of sewer leak

ALBANY — City of Albany officials said this weekend that a sewer leak that pumped approximately 2,000 gallons of wastewater into the Clark Avenue/Lines Canal and, subsequently, into the Flint River was caused by ongoing work on the East and Westside Interceptor sewer project.

A release from the city said Gulf Coast Underground, the contractor engaged in the interceptor sewer project, started slip lining pipe work earlier in the week. During the bypass pumping operation, the contractor estimates approximately 2,000 gallons of wastewater was inadvertently discharged into the canal and that water made its way into the Flint.

Ward III City Commissioner B.J. Fletcher said she was told that during bypass pumping operation to move water out of an existing manhole in the sewer system, the manhole developed a leak and the water backed into an abandoned sewer line and leaked into the canal downstream. The discharge lasted for about an hour before the cause was located and the abandoned line pumped out and plugged.