Atlanta, GA
‘Dangerously high levels’ of E. coli found in Chattahoochee River, environmental group says
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – An environmental group that monitors the Chattahoochee River says it detected “dangerously high levels” of E. coli downstream from an Atlanta wastewater treatment plant.
According to Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, the City of Atlanta’s R.M. Clayton Water Reclamation Center is the source of the issue.
The group said the bacteria was detected immediately downstream from the Marietta Boulevard/Atlanta Road bridge in northwest Atlanta, which isn’t far from the plant.
Chattahoochee Riverkeeper said the reclamation center is responsible for treating a large volume of the City of Atlanta’s sewage before it’s discharged in the river.
But leaders with Chattahoochee Riverkeeper said between March 4 and March 13, water quality testing they conducted showed E. coli levels at an average of 340 times higher than the amount recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for safe water recreation.
Advocates recommend that anyone who gets out on the river should use caution between Marietta Boulevard/Atlanta Bridge Road in Atlanta and the headwaters of West Point Lake.
Chattahoochee Riverkeeper said the great impact is “immediately downstream” of the R.M. Clayton plant.
“If you do come into contact with the water, river recreators should practice common sense hygiene practices like washing hands and disinfecting items that come into contact with the water,” the environmental group said.
The group said the drinking water in Fulton County and the wider metro Atlanta region is not affected. They said all source water is treated to meet drinking water standards.
In regard to wildlife, the group said they’re monitoring the impact, but as of March 14, “there have been no indications of a fish kill as a result of the discharge.”
They claim this is the second failure at a major wastewater treatment plant in metro Atlanta in less than a year, adding that last summer there was a failure at the Big Creek Water Reclamation Facility in Fulton County.
Atlanta News First has reached out to the City of Atlanta and is waiting to hear back.
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The Georgia Department of Transportation announced that a major weekend construction project, set to fully shut down two miles of I-285, has been postponed due to inclement weather. Atlantans are relieved, with many looking forward to more freedom to travel this Mothers’ Day weekend. Kim Leoffler has the story.
ATLANTA – An Atlanta flight attendant and mother of eight is among 17,000 Spirit Airlines workers struggling to find a new “destination” after the carrier suddenly shut down.
Spirit Airlines Atlanta impact
What we know:
Spirit Airlines ended all operations on Saturday, grounding its entire fleet and ending employment for its 17,000-person workforce. Flight attendants and customers were stranded across the country, often forced to pay for their own travel home after the discount carrier ceased operations.
Kamille Carter, an Atlanta-based flight attendant of five years, said she received the termination email from the CEO at 3 a.m., despite earlier assurances from union representatives that the company was stable. The company immediately cut healthcare benefits and stopped payments for sick leave and vacation time for all staff members.
Unpaid wages and benefits
What we don’t know:
It is unclear if Carter and her fellow employees will ever receive their final paychecks or if there is any legal recourse for the lost benefits. The company has not specified if any transition assistance will be provided to workers, some of whom had been with the airline since it launched in 1994.
Employee reaction in Georgia
What they’re saying:
“This is a death because you have to mourn, you have to grieve, it’s a process,” Carter said of the sudden job loss. Despite the financial strain of supporting eight children, Carter is looking toward her passion for cooking as a potential new career. She noted that while being uncomfortable is difficult, it can “push you to your destiny.”
Finding help in Atlanta
What you can do:
Community members looking to support Carter and other local workers affected by the shutdown can find more information on the FOX 5 Atlanta website. The station is collecting resources for those navigating the sudden loss of income and healthcare.
The Source: The information in this story was gathered from an interview conducted by FOX 5 reporter Eric Perry, who spoke directly with former flight attendant Kamille Carter in Atlanta. Previous FOX 5 Atlanta reporting was also used.
The search for missing 16-year-old Benjamin Braithwaite is over. Atlanta police announced just before midnight Thursday that he had been located, more than a week after he vanished from his Regency Trace home.
The department shared the update on social media but did not release additional details about where he was found or the circumstances surrounding his recovery.
Braithwaite had been missing since the night of April 27, when he was last seen around 9 p.m. at his home in Atlanta. His family said they had no contact with him during the entire time he was gone.
The disappearance of the KIPP Atlanta Collegiate High School sophomore and basketball team member had galvanized the Atlanta community. His family, teammates, Atlanta police officers and neighbors gathered at the school last week to raise awareness about his disappearance. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, where his mother works, joined the search effort — asking the public to watch for him at MARTA stops and fast food restaurants.
A $10,000 reward had been offered for credible information leading to his safe return.
“Even small details matter. Your awareness could make the difference,” the airport wrote in an Instagram post earlier this week.
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