Cobb County Water System spilled 3.9 million gallons of treated wastewater that did not meet quality standards into Lake Allatoona this week.

The spill was discovered Thursday after routine water sampling found the wastewater had not been fully treated to the Georgia Environmental Protection Division standards. The water was disinfected and will not impact the drinking water supply, according to county officials.

Just before Memorial Day weekend in May, 12 million gallons of treated wastewater that also did not meet standards spilled into the lake.

The Northwest Water Reclamation Facility processes and releases 12 million gallons of water per day into Lake Allatoona, according to county officials.

Water system employees will continue water testing upstream and downstream and are “investigating the cause and working to ensure that the plant is operating normally,” according to a news release.

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Joe Rich had moved to 3935 Paces Manor 2.5 year ago. on Tuesday, Sept. 22,2009, he was trapped at his house with no way out - but a boat. He has been ferrying various things back and forth and is surprised he still has power. Vinings residents were dealing with a major flooding issue Tuesday, as the Chattahoochee River made its way along the banks near Paces Ferry Road.  Many residents with upscale homes were hit hard, some for the second time since an earlier post millennia flooding episode. Since early Monday, seven lives have been taken and several other people remain missing. The record-setting rains also have closed schools and roads and have left people stranded in their homes. The river's level near Vinings was at 27.36 feet before daybreak Tuesday after cresting at 28.1 feet overnight. Flood stage is 14 feet, and anything above 20 feet is considered "major" flooding. (Photo: John Spink, jspink@ajc.com)

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People join a rally in support for U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention employees on Tuesday afternoon, April 1, 2025, at the Atlanta headquarters after federal cuts triggered significant layoffs. (Photo: Jenni Girtman for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

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