The amount of sewage that spilled out of a ruptured force main is approximately 4,700 gallons, according to Effingham County engineer Steve Liotta.

The leak, near the county’s lift station in the Park West subdivision vicinity, did not approach any homes nor did it interrupt service to those residents on that line, Liotta said. The sewage flowed toward the Black Creek, and the state Environmental Protection Division asked the county to find out how much had escaped from the broken line.

By figuring out how many times the pump cycled between the time the break was reported and the lift station was cut off and determining how much volume the lift station had, Liotta said he was able to figure out 1,175 gallons per cycle. That led to the estimate of 4,700 gallons.

The county has figured out how much sewage got out and they’re trying to figure out why it happened.

“We’re still investigating the cause of the force main rupture,” Liotta said.