ACSA reports Williams Creek sanitary sewer overflow; staff say vandalism likely, spill stopped and disinfected

Amherst County Service Authority staff reported March 4 that they responded to a sanitary sewer overflow on Williams Creek last Thursday, stopped the discharge and completed cleanup and disinfection according to authority policies.

Staff said the overflow was reported to the authority around 2:30 a.m., crews were on site about 3 a.m., and the blocked main was cleared and the overflow stopped by about 6:30 a.m. The blockage was a large yellow plastic dish — staff estimated it was about 10 inches deep — that had lodged in an 18‑inch gravity sewer main beneath a manhole. ACSA staff said the dish was not the authority’s typical manhole insert (a shallow 3–4 inch dish used to keep stormwater out) and that evidence suggests the obstruction was introduced intentionally.

“Once we finally got the pump, it pumped down enough or drawn down enough so we can actually pull out the blockage,” staff reported. The affected area was disinfected and cleaned according to the authority’s procedures and the event was reported to state regulators as required.

Board members asked whether the incident had been reported to the sheriff’s office; staff said they are investigating and will report to law enforcement if they determine the event was an act of vandalism. Staff indicated there was no indication the overflow resulted from lack of maintenance.

No penalties, ongoing public-health advisories or long-term service disruptions were reported during the meeting. Staff said they would continue investigating the incident and pursue any necessary regulatory or law‑enforcement reporting.