Fisherman Asks Questions About What's Flowing into Altamaha
09/05/06
The Altamaha River is one of the largest in the eastern United
States. But how safe is the water? One man is asking that question
after
he saw something strange flowing into it last week outside Jesup.
He says the mysterious liquid came from the city.
The sight was enough to worry and anger Dan Stoner. He was fishing
on the Altamaha River last Wednesday when he took pictures of something
being pumped into the water.
"What surprised me about what I saw was the amount pumped
into the river, and it was bright pink, or purple, and you could
smell it," he
said.
He collected samples and sent one to the Georgia Environmental
Protection Division.
The pipe belongs to the City of Jesup. Mike Deal, Jesup's city
manager, says the state knows all about the pipe. The water, he
says, comes
from the city's wastewater treatment plant and the color comes
from dye used by an industry that uses city water.
"We feel like we're in good shape," Deal told us. "We're
within the parameters set by EPD. But it does change the color."
Deal says this happens a few times a year, but no one notices.
He says the treated water is as safe as the rest of the river.
Stoner says he won't believe that until he hears from the EPD.
Mike Deal confirms the EPD is investigating the matter. We'll
let you know what they say.
Reported by: Dal Cannady, dcannady@wtoc.com |
