Hamilton County Health Department
JASPER — The health advisory on the Withlacoochee River has been lifted.
The Florida Department of Health in Hamilton County announced Thursday morning that it was removing the advisory for high bacteria levels on the river.
According to the health department, tests completed last Friday and Monday show that the river’s water quality contains an acceptable level of E.coli bacteria according to state guidelines.
The advisory was issued Nov. 14 following a wastewater overflow in Valdosta the previous week. After the overflow, the E.coli levels passed the state’s 235 MPN/100mL threshold.
Due to a major rain event Nov. 6-7, Valdosta had approximately 7.5 million gallons of sewage overflow out of two different plants.