Conservancy Calls for Statewide Monitoring Network

Conservancy Calls for Statewide Monitoring Network

Between summer and fall 2011, there have been at least four major pollution events on Georgia waterways – two within a month of each other – resulting in the closure of wells and water treatment facilities, and the killing of tens of thousands of fish and other wildlife. Some Georgians living in the affected communities reported illnesses after coming into contact with chemicals in the water.

Click here to learn more about these events.

Most notably, King America Finishing's illegal pollution of the Ogeechee River led to the deaths of at least 38,000 fish and people who came in contact with the river reportedly fell ill.

Click here to read a detailed account of the Ogeechee fish kill and its fallout.

These disasters are occurring on a more regular basis in the state and have thus far significantly impacted several rural communities’ sources of water and food. When combined with the ongoing delay in the cleanup of the Altamaha River, a picture emerges of a river system in crisis.

The time has come for a statewide and enhanced water monitoring network in Georgia. It could help prevent future disaster, hardship and sickness in Georgia communities that result from chemical spills, illegal discharges and other pollution events. Data on water quality and quantity could enable state regulators, regional water councils, local governments and concerned citizens to better manage flow, discharge and, ultimately, the impacts of pollution events on drinking water supplies and wildlife.

Such a monitoring network could also help the state to develop specific and more effective plans to address “non-point source” water pollution from flooding, development activities, farm field runoff, unpaved roads and road work, land use and zoning, and stormwater.

Together, we can build the Southeast’s first comprehensive, statewide, ongoing and computer-based water monitoring program. Contact your state legislators and tell them that funding for water monitoring is important to you. The General Assembly can and should restore the budget of the Environmental Protection Division (EPD) and give them the resources to begin building an Enhanced Statewide Water Monitoring Network.

Click here to look up the contact information for your legislators.

Photos:
Trail Creek – Special from Athens Banner-Herald
Brier Creek – Elizabeth Billips, The True Citizen
Ogeechee River – Special from Georgia EPD
Altamaha River – James Holland