Georgia WWTP Accused Of Taking 'Millions More Gallons' Of Wastewater Than Permitted
An investigation into suspicious activity from a Georgia water and wastewater utility has revealed illegal practices and underscored the importance of proper wastewater treatment in protecting the environment.
“A north Georgia water utility is accepting millions more gallons of waste water than allowed without state mandated permits,” according to a report from 11 Alive. “Two landfills, with a history of state violations, deposited the waste with the utility’s permission for years. Now, residents and advocacy groups are concerned about the potential environmental impact.”
Normally, wastewater treatment operations must receive approval from state authorities to treat certain types of influent. But the investigation found that officials at the Elijay Water and Sewer Authority (EGCWSA) allowed local landfills to send millions of gallons of wastewater that has percolated through trash, sometimes known as “leachate,” without those state-mandated permits.
The investigation found that the landfills have sent 125 million gallons of this wastewater to the facility since 2018, and that others from other states did as well. The utility was found to have treated some 133 million gallons of the wastewater and collected $4.8 million in all.
“Multiple studies show leachate often contains elevated levels of a group of chemicals called … PFAS,” per 11 Alive. “Most water treatment plants do not regularly test or have the technology to remove PFAS before releasing it into lakes and streams. EGCWSA declined to tell … whether it does either one.”
The EGCSWA has responded to the accusations by claiming that the identified landfills do not meet the requirements to obtain special permitting, but the state’s environmental protection department indicated that it doesn’t agree.
“While financial penalties against water utilities are rare, fines could run up to $50,000 a day for EGCWSA,” according to 11 Alive. “The state also added that the authority could issue pretreatment permits to the landfills by April.”
To read more about the rules that govern wastewater treatment operations, visit Water Online’s Regulations And Legislation Solutions Center.