Category Archives: Quality

Radio: Mayor and Chairmans Paddle by Suwannee Riverkeeper on talk921.com 2026-03-05

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Join us on the radio, talk921.com, at 8 AM tomorrow morning, Thursday, March 5, 2026, to hear about the Mayor and Chairmans Paddle by Suwannee Riverkeeper this Saturday.

https://wwals.net/?p=69525

[Radio: talk921.com, 8 AM, Thursday, March 5, 2026, Mayor and Chairmans Paddle by Suwannee Riverkeeper]
Radio: talk921.com, 8 AM, Thursday, March 5, 2026, Mayor and Chairmans Paddle by Suwannee Riverkeeper

Here’s a facebook event to remind you:

https://www.facebook.com/events/2273100159762397/

Thanks to Joe Brownlee and Georgia Power for the generous grant that makes this paddle free for everyone. Thanks to Paul Deloach and The Langdale Company for river access. Thanks to Paul Batts and Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority for shuttle vans. Thanks to Steve Miller for his 4-wheeler for the takeout. And thanks to Phil Hubbard for leading this paddle.

Valdosta Mayor Scott James Matheson and Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman may also talk about other current topics such as: Continue reading →

Another Valdosta drinking water violation 2026-01-15

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We received this notice from a concerned citizen.

It’s much like the one we posted back in 2015.

https://wwals.net/?p=15277

[Another Valdosta drinking water violation, Again HAA5, Minor, 2026-01-15]
Another Valdosta drinking water violation, Again HAA5, Minor, 2026-01-15

PUBLIC NOTIFICATION
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER
HAAS VIOLATION AT City of Valdosta Water System

Water System Name: City of Valdosta (GA 1850002) Continue reading →

WFNF bill in Florida Senate Rules Committee 2026-03-03

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Please come to the WFNF ratification meeting of the Florida Senate Rules Committee, at 9 AM, Tuesday, March 3, 2026. That’s at the Pat Thomas Committee Room, 412 Knott Building, 404 South Monroe Street Tallahassee, FL 32399.

https://www.flsenate.gov/Committees/Show/RC/

If we’re lucky, they’ll be done by lunchtime. There is no way to predict when they will take up SB 7034.

All of you who in meetings and online have opposed the Water First North Florida (WFNF) project to pipe treated Jacksonville wastewater into the Suwannee River Basin: here’s a chance to stop it.

[Call to stop WFNF bill 2026-03-03, Florida Senate Rules Committee, No JAX wastewater into Suwannee Basin]
Call to stop WFNF bill 2026-03-03, Florida Senate Rules Committee, No JAX wastewater into Suwannee Basin

If you can’t come in person, please call or write your Florida state Senator.

Either way, please be polite but firm.

Two Suwannee River Basin Florida State Senators are on the Rules Committee: Continue reading →

Clean New, Withlacoochee, and Santa Fe Rivers and Sugar Creek 2026-02-26

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Not only did the Santa Fe and Withlacoochee Rivers test clean, the New River at 18th Street did too, for once. And Sugar Creek tested clean even at the WaterGoat, just above the Withlacoochee River.

This was all before the rain today (Friday), but chances are most lingering on-land contamination was washed down by the previous rain.

No new sewage spills have been reported this week in the Suwannee River Basin in Florida. There was one in Georgia, a Valdosta dry land sewage spill Wednesday at 718 Georgia Avenue, that from what little we know did not get into any waterways.

https://wwals.net/?p=69533

So happy paddling, swimming, fishing, and boating this sunny warm weekend.

This image is an illustration. Scroll down for the details.

[Clean New, Withlacoochee, and Santa Fe Rivers, and Sugar Creek, 2026-02-26]
Clean New, Withlacoochee, and Santa Fe Rivers, and Sugar Creek, 2026-02-26

We’re going ahead with the Withlacoochee River chainsaw cleanup tomorrow, meeting at the Salty Snapper parking lot at 9 AM:

https://wwals.net/?p=69438

Follow this link for the WWALS composite spreadsheet of water quality results, rainfall, and sewage spills in the Suwannee River Basin in Georgia and Florida:
https://wwals.net/issues/testing/#results

The image below is a current excerpt from that spreadsheet. Continue reading →

Valdosta dry land sewage spill 2026-02-25

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Update 2026-02-27: Clean New, Withlacoochee, and Santa Fe Rivers and Sugar Creek 2026-02-26.

Valdosta had a small dry land sewage spill Wednesday, according to the GA-EPD Sewage Spills Report of this Friday, February 27, 2026.

The report says it was at 718 Georgia Avenue. That’s uphill from Two Mile Branch, but the “OVERFLOW DESTINATION” is listed as “Dry Land Overflow”.

The report says it was raw sewage from a force main. There’s no estimate yet of number of gallons.

[Valdosta sewage spill, 718 Georgia Avenue, Dry Land Overflow, Force Main, Unknown Gallons]
Valdosta sewage spill, 718 Georgia Avenue, Dry Land Overflow, Force Main, Unknown Gallons

For “CAUSE,” it says, “Caused by Construction or Maintenance Activity, Third Party Contractor.”

It doesn’t say who employed the contractor. Whoever it is needs to get a grip on what they’re doing.

The location is highlighted on this map. Continue reading →

Packet: Irwin Forward Datacenter Public Hearing, Ocilla-Irwin County Planning Advisory Commission 2026-02-26

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The Public Hearing on the proposed Special Exception for the Irwin Forward Data Center is tonight at 6 PM, in Ocilla, we hear at the Courthouse, before the Ocilla-Irwin County Planning Advisory Commission.

Here, in response to a WWALS open records request, is the agenda and the application for the Special Exception, which includes two maps.

Also received is a long deck of slides from Abernathy Development Company, mostly about specific customers.

These documents do not answer questions such as who is the datacenter customer (Google?), where are the specifications for the closed loop cooling water system, and what would those 200-300 high-paying local permanent jobs be doing, that were advertised in the slides for Irwin Forward Tech Park.

https://wwals.net/?p=69454

[Packet: Irwin Forward Datacenter, Public Hearing 2026-02-26, Ocilla-Irwin County Planning Advisory Commission]
Packet: Irwin Forward Datacenter, Public Hearing 2026-02-26, Ocilla-Irwin County Planning Advisory Commission

The proposed location is on Ponderosa Drive, Irwinville, GA, quite near the Alapaha River.

All that WWALS received is on the WWALS website.

Images of each page are below. Continue reading →

Notice of Violation, Caton Farms, LLC, Permit No. PBR-010-0020(CO) 2026-02-19

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Looks like there is ample room for improvement in the Solid Waste Open Dump Consent Order on Dwight Caton in Berrien County, GA 2025-12-22.

https://wwals.net/?p=69496

If anyone sees any creek or river contamination that might be coming from any of these sites (on Paul King Road, Luke King Road, or Whitley Tucker Road), please let WWALS and GA-EPD know.

[Notice of Violation, Caton Farms, LLC, Permit No. PBR-010-0020(CO), 2026-02-19]
Notice of Violation, Caton Farms, LLC, Permit No. PBR-010-0020(CO), 2026-02-19

Georgia
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DIVISION

Jeffrey W. Cown, Director
Southwest District
2024 Newton Road
Albany, Georgia 31701
229-430-4144

February 19, 2026

Mr. Charles Kincaid, Operator
Caton Farms, LLC
tkincaid1967@gmail.com

RE: Notice of Violation
Caton Farms, LLC
Permit No. PBR-010-0020(CO)
Berrien County, Georgia

Dear Mr. Kincaid:

A routine compliance inspection was conducted at the above referenced composting facility by representatives of the Georgia Environmental Protection Division on February 10, 2026. This Notice of Violation is issued to Caton Farms, LLC for deficiencies with regard to the referenced Permit and the Georgia Rules for Solid Waste Management (Rules). The enclosed Compost Class 2 Permit-by-Rule Checklist notes three (3) deficiencies, which are listed below for your review and attention:

Continue reading →

SRWMD rescheduled, not Hamilton County 2026-03-19

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Update 2026-02-26: Aquifer recharge is needed, but Jacksonville pumping is the biggest problem –Dennis J. Price, P.G. 2026-02-22.

Hamilton Rivers posted on facebook today, Public Clarification on the Water First North Florida Meeting

Hamilton County officials want to make it clear that we have not cancelled the upcoming meeting to discuss the Water First North Florida project.

The Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD) — not the County — has rescheduled the meeting at their request, and it will now take place at the District’s offices, as announced by the SRWMD.

New Meeting Details (hosted by SRWMD):

📅 Date: Thursday, March 19, 2026

🕕 Time: 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

📍 Location: SRWMD Headquarters, 9225 County Road 49, Live Oak, FL 32060j

[SRWMD rescheduled, not Hamilton County 2026-02-25, WFNF moved to SRWMD HQ, Thursday, March 19, 2026]
SRWMD rescheduled, not Hamilton County 2026-02-25, WFNF moved to SRWMD HQ, Thursday, March 19, 2026

SRWMD is still sending Amy Brown to speak Thursday evening at the North Central Florida Regional Planning Council. You can attend in person in Lake City or online.

https://wwals.net/?p=69492

For much more information on WFNF and how it’s good for JEA and Jacksonville, not so much for the Suwannee River Basin, see Water First North Florida at Columbia County Commission 2026-02-19.

SRWMD press release, District announces public meeting to discuss Water First North Florida
Posted on February 23, 2026 | Last Updated on February 23, 2026

LIVE OAK, FLA., FEBRUARY 23, 2026 — Following feedback received from its residents, the Suwannee River Water Management District (District) has announced an upcoming public meeting to provide a venue to discuss the project specifics, hear concerns, and respond to questions around the Water First North Florida project.

Continue reading →

Solid Waste Open Dump Consent Order on Dwight Caton in Berrien County, GA 2025-12-22

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Update 2026-02-26: Notice of Violation, Caton Farms, LLC, Permit No. PBR-010-0020(CO) 2026-02-19.

We have a candidate for what caused the nasty Alapaha River water that Mike Paulk reported on February 16, 2026, at GA 135 south of Willacoochee, Georgia.

https://wwals.net/?p=69417

Somebody from Louisiana owns land in Berrien County at three locations. According to the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GA-EPD), they found “chicken litter, large trees, and soybean material” at a reported site. This was a violation of Georgia Solid Waste rules, especially considering the landowner had no solid waste handling permit.

[Solid Waste Open Dump, Consent Order on Dwight Caton in Berrien County, GA 2025-02-15]
Solid Waste Open Dump, Consent Order on Dwight Caton in Berrien County, GA 2025-02-15

One of those locations has creeks running through it a short distance to the Alapaha River. That’s east of Luke King Road, north of Bruce Farm Road, northeast of Enigma, Georgia. See the red outline on this map. Continue reading →

SRWMD at North Central Florida Regional Planning Council 2026-02-26

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Update 2026-02-25: NCFRPC E.D. Scott Koons called to say Amy Brown of SRWMD will be speaking about drought conditions, not WFNF. Everyone is still welcome to come speak in Public Comment at the end of the meeting.

Update 2026-02-25: SRWMD rescheduled, not Hamilton County, for a WFNF meeting at SRWMD HQ 2026-03-19.

The agenda doesn’t say what Amy Brown of SRWMD will be speaking about at 7 PM Thursday, but chances are it will be Water First North Florida (WFNF), the SRWMD and SJRWMD project to pipe treated Jacksonville wastewater into Suwannee River Basin wetlands.

Yes, that’s the same day and an hour later than the SRWMD schedule appearance in Jasper.

There will be a meeting of the North Central Florida Regional Planning Council on February 26, 2026. The meeting will be held as a hybrid meeting in-person at the Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites, Suwannee Room, 213 Southwest Commerce Boulevard, Lake City, Florida, and via Communications Media Technology at 7:00 p.m.

To join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone:

https://meet.goto.com/309895045

DIAL IN NUMBER: Toll Free: 1.877.309.2073

ACCESS CODE: 309 895 045

MEETING STARTS AT 7:00 P.M.

Please email koons@ncfrpc.org by February 25, 2026 to let us know if you will be attending the meeting in-person or via communications media technology. THANK YOU.

[SRWMD at North Central Florida Regional Planning Council 2026-02-26, Guest Speaker: Amy Brown of SRWMD, Doesn't say WFNF, but probably is]
SRWMD at North Central Florida Regional Planning Council 2026-02-26, Guest Speaker: Amy Brown of SRWMD, Doesn’t say WFNF, but probably is

This is the relevant agenda item:

VI. | GUEST SPEAKER – Amy Brown, Deputy Executive Director Suwannee River Water Management District

Plus this item:

X. PUBLIC COMMENTS

The Council welcomes you to this meeting. This time is set aside for our citizens and general public to address the Council. If you would like to address the Council, please complete a form, come to the podium when you are called, speak into the microphone and state your name for the record. Please also limit your comments to not more than three minutes. Your participation is welcomed.

Please remember to Ask for explanations or to stop the projects. Continue reading →