Politics & Government
Problems At Oconee County Sewage Treatment Plants Began Nearly Two Years Ago, EPD Records Show
Two Environmental Protection Division reports anticipated problems at both county wastewater plants in recent months.
The problems at Oconee County’s two sewage treatment plants began in the second half of 2013, according to records at the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, which has the mandate to monitor operation of the plants.
Until that time, the Environmental Protection Division had identified only minor problems with the operation of the county’s two treatment plants.
On Sept. 13, 2013, Pete Dasher, program manager for the EPD Northeast District, wrote to the county telling it of “serious” violations of the county’s permit to operate the Calls Creek plant, just north of Watkinsville.
On Dec. 16, 2014, Donald H. McCarty Jr., EPD Northeast District manager, wrote to the county about “serious violations” at both the Calls Creek plant and the county’s Land Application System on Rocky Branch Road.
Those two reports–both permit violation notices--anticipated problems at both plants in recent months that have coincided with the resignation of Utility Department Director Chris Thomas and of Wastewater Supervisor Gene Price and with the county’s hiring of a consultant to help clean up problems at the plants.
For more on this story, including a timeline of developments, go to Oconee County Observations.
Pictured: EPD office in Athens-Clarke County.