A wastewater overflow within the Gainesville sewer system caused about 5,400 gallons to flow into a tributary of Flat Creek on Tuesday afternoon.

According to the Gainesville Public Utilities department, the spill was noticed at about 1:45 p.m. by an attendant at the Orchard Brook apartments in the 2900 block of McEver Road.

Utility workers found debris blocking a sewer line and repaired the problem in about an hour. After cleanup, they posted warning signs and contacted Hall County Environmental Health and the Georgia Environmental Protection Division.

The spill is not considered major, but the EPD has a zero-tolerance policy for sewage spills that affect Lake Lanier’s watershed.

For more information, contact Horace Gee, Gainesville Environmental Services administrator, at 770-532-7462.