Bacteria released into the Chattahoochee River near the R.M. Clayton Water Reclamation Center have returned to safe levels, according to the City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management.
The levels of E. coli dropped on Monday, March 18, to 100 MPN/100 ml, which is considered safe, according to the release posted on Facebook from Commissioner Mikita K. Browning.
When E. coli levels become elevated, the department takes steps to mitigate its impact in collaboration with the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, she said.
“The Department of Watershed Management (DWM) worked diligently to decrease these levels by introducing disinfectants and modifying dosing,” she said.
The DWM deployed mobile and secondary clarifier units to aid in the removal of additional pollutants that may have escaped the primary treatment stage.
Chattahoochee Riverkeeper Jason Ulseth said the organization was unable to sample the water for testing over the weekend but was picking it back up today and will have the next set of data available Tuesday morning.
Original story
A mechanical failure caused by heavy rain at the R.M. Clayton Water Reclamation Center has sent dangerous levels of E.coli bacteria surging into the Chattahoochee River.
According to a report from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the contaminated wastewater is causing E.coli bacteria rates to skyrocket downstream of the plant.
Jason Ulseth, executive director of the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, urged people to stay out of the river downstream of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. Water recreation should still be safe upstream of the plant, Ulseth told the AJC.
“Some level of treatment is happening, but not to any sufficient level to protect public health downstream of the plant for many, many miles,” Ulseth said. “This is a really big deal and it poses a significant health hazard to anybody coming in contact with the river.
“People need to know that they should avoid river contact until this plant is back online and fully operational,” he continued.
According to a spokesperson from the Atlanta Department of Watershed Management, the incident wasn’t an actual sewage spill. The spokesperson said high water flow from heavy rain caused mechanical failures at the plant, so DWM is doing “corrective and preventive maintenance” to remove additional pollutants that got through the primary treatment.
Eight mobile clarifiers – tanks that help remove untreated sewage – have been added during the repairs, and more disinfectant is being used to lower E. coli levels, according to the spokesperson.