A coalition of state environmental and conservation groups has released what it calls its “Dirty Dozen” of worst offenses to Georgia’s water supply and blames the lack of enforcement on cuts to the state Environmental Protection Division budget and political “cronyism.”
The EPD declined on Tuesday to comment on the list, compiled by the Georgia Water Coalition, which represents 180 organizations across the state. The dirty dozen includes the Chattahoochee River where Peachtree Creek flows into it carrying treated sewage water from Atlanta.
According to the group's report, the EPD fails to adequately monitor the flow rate of the Chattahoochee River at Peachtree Creek to determine if it's in compliance with EPD standards and adequate to “protect the health of the river.” The list also includes the Flint River, which has headwaters beneath Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
According to the coalition, the Flint is being “sucked dry” downstream because the EPD has issued too many withdrawal permits to municipalities needing drinking water. The group also cites as violations two reservoirs being planned or constructed in north metro Atlanta as the state pushes for reservoir development.
The Glades Reservoir in Hall County, and the proposed Shoal Creek Reservoir in Dawson County, are “unnecessary reservoirs that threaten downstream communities, endangered species, and public coffers,” claims the group. Sally Bethea, executive director of the environmental group the Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, said Tuesday that too many members of the Department of Natural Resources board of directors have ties to business interests that are directly or indirectly regulated by EPD.
“Too often in Georgia, the fox is watching the hen house,” said Sally Bethea. “Some of the problems on this list have been happening for decades, and the agency that is supposed to fix the problems can’t, or won’t. The failures go deeper than lack of funding.”
The list and full report can be found online at: http://www.garivers.org/gawater/dirtydozen.htm
1. Ogeechee River: 5 years of pollution undetected by EPD
2. Altamaha River: Pulp mill discharge
3. Savannah River: Harbor dredging harms estuary
4. Chattahoochee River: Low water flow rates at Peachtree Creek
5. Shoal Creek and Flat Creek: Unnecessary reservoirs threaten downstream communities and endangered species
6. Oconee & Ogeechee Rivers: Coal plant permitted although it will harm water and fisheries
7. Flint River: Too many withdrawals allowed
8. Coastal Wetlands: Docks in Georgia’s tidal wetlands harm the "Marshes of Glynn."
9. South Georgia Wetlands: Four decades of ditches dry South Georgia wetlands
10. Broad River: Waste disposal fouls river
11. Brier & Commissioner Creeks: Fish dying In Kaolin Country
12. Coosa River: Coal-fired power plant’s water withdrawal and heated water discharge
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