Oconee County Expecting Report In June Evaluating Options For Discharge From Calls Creek Plant

Precision Planning Inc. is expected to complete its study of how to handle increased effluent from the county’s Calls Creek wastewater treatment facility in early to mid-June, Oconee County Utility Department Director Wayne Haynie said last week.

The report from PPI will include the evaluation of several “corridors” for a discharge pipe, Haynie said, including the initially proposed route down Calls Creek itself to the Middle Oconee River.

Hayne also said he has received a “request for clarification” from the state’s Environmental Protection Division in response to the county’s application to be allowed to release additional treated wastewater into Calls Creek, possibly making it unnecessary that the county build a discharge pipeline.

Haynie said he was “gathering additional water consumption projections” to address the questions raised by the EPD.

Also last week, Chris Manganiello, policy director of the Georgia River Network, wrote to the EPD saying the Georgia River Network has “serious concerns about EPD revisiting” its decision about Calls Creek’s waste load allocation for treated sewage because of the current "impaired" status of the creek.

For additional details on the story, please go to Oconee County Observations.

Pictured: Protest Sign Around County