Lake Lanier was recently listed as one of the worst offenders for water pollution in this year’s "Dirty Dozen," a report published annually by the Georgia Water Coalition.
Lake Lanier provides nearly 5 million people with water every day, and while the Environmental Protection Division (EPD) has regulations in place through the Clean Water Act for the amount of waste released into Georgia’s waters, the Georgia Water Coalition said in the 2019 report that they often fail to enforce these standards.
Baker & Glover Mobile Home Park on Cleveland Highway north of Gainesville was listed as one of the offenders, releasing 18,300 gallons a day through a small wastewater treatment plant on site. Despite multiple violations, resulting in 14 different fines, the plant continues to operate unchecked. While this is just one example, the Water Coalition said it highlights EPD’s failure to fully enforce the Clean Water Act. In this case, it calls their penalties a “slap on the wrist” that does not really prevent them from future offenses.
The Georgia Water Coalition is encouraging the EPD to take firmer action to prevent repeat violators, including heavier fines, as well as make necessary upgrades to treatment plants.
The EPD recently implemented a plan to improve water quality, but it is reliant on the facilities that discharge waste to meet those requirements.
To read the full report on why the Georgia Water Coalition believes Lake Lanier belongs on this year's "Dirty Dozen" list, follow this link.
Other offenders on this year's list include:
Altamaha River: Rayonier Advanced Materials chemical pulp mill in Jesup makes record seventh appearance in Dirty Dozen report.
Chattahoochee River: Georgia Power Company determines “safe” coal ash cleanup plans for power plants in Cobb, Coweta and Carroll counties while Georgia leaders are idle on stronger requirements.
Coosa River: Suspect coal ash disposal plan threatens river and groundwater.
Georgia’s Headwater Streams: Rollback to federal environmental rules endanger national forests, the birthplaces of Georgia’s drinking water sources.
Georgia’s Public Health: Legislative budget writers continue stealing from environmental funds and delay hazardous waste cleanups.
Georgia’s Rural Communities: Proposed legislation would stomp on rural property rights and welcome industrial agriculture—and its pollution—to Georgia.
Ocmulgee River: Coal ash ponds pollute drinking water in Monroe and Macon-Bibb counties.
Okefenokee Swamp: Proposed 2,400-acre titanium mine threatens signature landscape of Georgia.
St. Mary’s River: Legislative loophole invites out-of-state toxic coal ash to Georgia landfills, including one in Charlton County
St. Simons Sound: Cargo ship disaster fouls marshes and beaches
Terry Creek: Proposed federal cleanup plan for toxic site in Brunswick leave locals fuming.
