Sanitary Sewer Overflows

Over 4.5 million gallons of raw sewage has been discharged into the City of Jackson urban creeks during the first three quarters of 2018.  From Jan-Sept 2018, 120 separate Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSO) discharges to "Waters of the State" have occurred from the collection system sewer lines associated with the Savannah Street Sewage Treatment Plant.  Untreated sewage has flowed into most of the Jackson creeks that lead to the Pearl River, including Town, Eubanks, Belhaven, Lynch, Hanging Moss, Eastover and others. 

What is a a Sanitary Sewer Overflow?
A Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSO) is an event in which untreated sewage is discharged from the sewage collection system into the environment prior to reaching the sewage treatment facilities.  These discharges endanger human health, cause property damage, and degrade our local water quality. 

• Health impacts: Sewage spills contain bacteria, viruses, and a host of other pathogens.  Health hazards range from mild gastrointestinal discomfort to more serious illnesses such as Hepatitis and Dysentery. 
• Environmental impacts: Spills degrade water quality by increasing the concentration of pollutants and nutrient levels which in turn decreases the amount of  dissolved oxygen in the water.  Low dissolved oxygen can cause fish kills and is harmful to all aquatic species. 

What causes SSO events? 
The majority of the SSO events experienced by the City of Jackson collection system were caused by either grease buildup or collapsed pipes.  Other causes include excessive flow and blockages from roots  and solids. The City of Jackson's aging sewer lines are crumbling and collapsing in many areas.  View this City of Jackson video to learn more about how you can help reduce buildup of fats, oils and grease in the sewer system collection lines.

​How can SSOs be reduced or eliminated?

• Consistent investment and maintenance of sewer collection systems is necessary to decrease the frequency and severity of sewer overflows to the Pearl River. The aging sewer lines and pipes must be upgraded to accommodate current needs and future growth.  ​
• Sewer system cleaning and maintenance must receive adequate staffing and funding.
• Residents can help by limiting fats, oils and grease (FOG) released to the sewer system.

The sewer collection system of a large municipality is an asset worth billions of dollars.  Properly funding ongoing maintenance and rehabilitation adds value to the original investment by maintaining the system's capacity and extending its life. 

Is public notification required during an SSO event?
Currently, neither the City of Jackson, MDEQ or the MS Department of Health is required to notify you if an SSO occurred in your neighborhood.  In the event of an "overflow creating significant health hazard or significant volume has reached waters of the US and/or State", "(City of Jackson) will issue a news release and place temporary signs in the area of the overflow.  Additional notification will be considered in conjunction with MDEQ and HCHD."

Where have the City of Jackson 2018 SSO events occurred?  ​
Check out our interactive map below to find out if a SSO event occurred in your City of Jackson neighborhood. Click on the pinned locations for information about the date, location, cause of the overflow, and amount of untreated sewage released.  Large Scale Map Link