Coal ash, river PFAS on Dirty Dozen list
Report highlights threats to Georgia waterways.
The Georgia Water Coalition released its annual “Dirty Dozen” list for 2024 last Thursday highlighting, among other issues, coal ash contamination in the Coosa River and PFAS pollution in the Oostanaula.
The report is a combination of specific polluted waterways across the state and policies that threaten the health of Georgia’s water resources.
The report identified threats to the following specific waterways:
Ƈ Coosa River, where Georgia Power plans to leave coal ash in one pond at the closed Plant Hammond to remain in contact with groundwater.
Ƈ Conasauga and Ogeechee rivers, where the presence of toxic “forever chemicals” taints fish and threatens human health. The Consauga is one of the feeders for the Oostanaula River, which then feeds into the Coosa River.
Ƈ Abercorn Creek, where growth spurred by the Port of Savannah threatens regional water supplies.
Ƈ Altamaha River, where the state continues to allow a pulp mill in Jesup to pollute the river.
Ƈ Flint River in Decatur County, where plans for a $400 million monkey breeding facility have residents worried about the spread of disease.
Ƈ Floridan Aquifer in South Georgia, where growth in coastal counties is straining underground water supplies.
Ƈ Okefenokee Swamp, where the state is poised to issue permits for a proposed titanium mine along Trail Ridge.
More generally, the report warned about the drain on energy and water supplies posed by an influx of massive data centers in Georgia and a push to privatize public water resources.
Much of the stress on the state’s waterways stems from the rapid growth in recent years that has won Georgia the status of being the No. 1 state to do business, said Jesse Demonbreun-Chapman, executive director of the Coosa River Basin Initiative, one of the Georgia Water Coalition’s more than 260 member organizations.
“Our success in economic development has had a down side,” he said.
Joe Cook of the Georgia River Network, who chaired the committee that selected the Dirty Dozen, said the controversy over the proposed monkey breeding facility in Bainbridge drew attention to the role local development authorities play in crafting secret deals offering tax incentives to lure businesses to their communities. The company behind the project, Safer Human Medicine, is looking to house 30,000 monkeys for medical research.
“That’s more monkeys than there are people in Decatur County,” Cook said.
The report identified PFAS, a group of manmade “forever chemicals” used to make fabric stain resistant and fire retardant, as an emerging pollutant. While the carpet and textile industries are phasing them out, they’re still polluting rivers and contaminating fish, especially in the Conasauga and Ogeechee rivers.
Gov. Brian Kemp vetoed legislation this week that would have temporarily suspended a state sales tax exemption aimed at attracting data centers. The bill’s supporters said the twoyear pause in the exemption was needed to allow time to study the impacts the industry’s rapid growth is having on energy and water supplies.
“Tax breaks to lure data centers to Georgia have had unintended consequences,” Cook said. “They use tremendous amounts of energy and water.”
TMargo
he Cedartown Polk County Humane Society is working to ensure that all pets in its care have every opportunity of finding forever homes. Its facility is located at 3416 Rockmart Highway, Cedartown.
Anyone interested in a Pet of the Week or any of the animals being sheltered by the organization can visit the shelter Saturday from 2-5 p.m. or otherwise by appointment. Call or text 706-252-4412 for an appointment or more information.
You can also visit cedartownpolkcountyhumanesociety.com for more information and to complete an adoption form.
Tamara is a very sweet little girl that loves to be petted. She is small at almost 12 pounds and 6 years old. She loves to sit in your lap and sleep in the bed with you.
She is playful, sweet, enjoys riding in the car and is okay with cats and kids. We are not sure about other dogs. She is looking for a new home to call her own.
As with all our dogs, Tamara has been tested for heartworms, vaccinated appropriate for age, spayed and microchipped. Microchip registration is included in the adoption fee. All our pets are given flea and heartworm preventatives monthly.
Margo is a sweet two-pound girl who, at two months old, is playful and loving. She is a domestic, medium-haired, brown tabby hoping to have a family of her own very soon.
As with all of our cats and kittens, Margo has been tested for FIV and Feline leukemia, vaccinated appropriate for age, spayed, and microchipped. Microchip registration is included in the adoption fee. All our pets are given flea and heartworm preventatives monthly.
The Cedartown Polk County Humane Society operates a pet food pantry at its Rockmart Highway location. The pantry provides food on the first and third Friday of each month.