City of Trenton Reports Wastewater Discharge into Lookout Creek

TRENTON, Ga. — The City of Trenton has issued a public notice following a temporary issue at its wastewater treatment facility that resulted in a discharge into Lookout Creek.

According to Mayor Alex Case, the incident occurred on April 10 around 2:00 p.m. when a clarifier system—used to remove solids from wastewater—became clogged. The blockage caused a buildup of sludge and led to a temporary system overload.

While crews worked to resolve the issue, the affected clarifier was drained back to the plant’s system, which contributed to an overflow from a secondary clarifier. As a result, partially treated wastewater was released into Lookout Creek.

Officials estimate the discharge lasted approximately 15 to 30 minutes.

The wastewater treatment plant was immediately shut down once the issue was identified, and crews worked quickly to clear the blockage. City officials say the system has since been gradually restored to normal operations.

The City of Trenton notified both the Georgia Department of Public Health Environmental Division and the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, as required for any wastewater discharge.

Officials emphasized that there is no threat to the public drinking water supply, noting the incident involved a limited release of partially treated sludge.

The city says it will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as necessary in coordination with state agencies.