A mid-day sewage spill has caused some alarm for the local water authority.

Etowah Water and Sewer Authority believe vandalism is to blame for a wastewater spill identified at 3 p.m. Monday, near Taffar Creek between Country Crossing subdivision and Dawson Forest Road.

A log, about 6 inches in diameter and 7 feet long, and a large limb placed into a manhole caused sewage to back-up in the sewer collection system and overflow.

"Due to the vandalism at the manhole, some of the wastewater overflowed into the creek," said Assistant General Manager Tim Collins.

The authority estimated 120,000 gallons of wastewater overflowed the manhole and discharged into Taffar Creek.

Authority and contract employees located and identified the problem, removed the log and limb, and returned the sewer collection system to normal operations around 6 p.m.

Authority staff began the required monitoring protocol Tuesday afternoon by posting signs and monitoring the spill site. Georgia Environmental Protection Division and Dawson County Environmental Health Department were both notified.

"The waste water is not in the water system," Collins said Tuesday afternoon. "Right now, we are talking to the EPD about the spill, monitoring the site and testing samples regularly. We should know by tomorrow the extent of the damage."

Check dawsonnews.com for updates.