‘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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