Minor sanitary sewer spill entered canal that flows into Savannah River, city officials say

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - The City of Savannah reported a minor sanitary sewer spill that occurred Tuesday, January 17, 2026, near Kollock Street, in a press release WTOC just received.

The City says the spill was caused by a broken sewer main. Once the main was inspected, the cause of the spill was determined to be the result of a deteriorated pipe.

An estimated 7,200 gallons were released, and the spill entered the Springfield Canal, which flows into the Savannah River.

Officials say city crews reacted quickly and were able to place a repair band on the pipe. This allowed the system to return to normal operation. Because of this, the City of Savannah says staff were able to recover approximately 90% of the 7,200 gallons of overflow and return it to the conveyance system.

Under state environmental reporting guidelines, this incident is classified as a minor spill. Officials say the affected area is within the President Street Water Reclamation Facility service area.

The City of Savannah says this pumping station will be further evaluated to identify steps that can help prevent similar mechanical issues in the future.