This long-troubled water system, run by Lowndes County to serve the Lake Alapaha Plantation subdivision next to the Alapaha River, in January 2025 got a Consent Order for the county to move along and fix it.

GA-EPD Consent Order on Lowndes County, January 2025, for the Alapaha Plantation Subdivision Water System

This drinking water plant has been getting notices of violation from GA-EPD since 2004.

In 2013 and 2014, Lowndes County spent at least $35,500 to fix it.

In 2018 the county spent another $16,915 to upgrade a water line for a private developer there.

In 2021, another proposal was for $173,000 to fix the same plant.

In 2024, Lowndes County tried a pilot of a potential solution, which failed. See The never-ending Lake Alapaha Water Treatment Plant saga @ LCC 2021-08-10.

Remember this ongoing expenditure of tax funds next time you see a subdivision rezoning on an agenda for zero BUDGET IMPACT.

In 2025, apparently some time in January, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GA-EPD) issued a Consent Order.

That Order was mentioned in the board packet for the April 7, 2025, Lowndes County Commission meeting, and discussed briefly in their April 8, 2025, Regular Session.

The bulk of the Consent Order is about Maximum Contaminant Levels being exceeded on many dates for Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) and Haloacetic Acids (HAA5). These contaminants form when river water is chlorinated for drinking use.

The Consent Order, received in response to a WWALS open records request to Lowndes County, is on the WWALS website.

The gist of the Order is on Page 14:

Conditions

WHEREAS, the Director has determined that an amicable disposition of the alleged violations set forth herein is in the best interest of the citizens of the State of Georgia.

NOW THEREFORE, before the taking of any testimony and without adjudicating the merits of the parties’ positions, the parties hereby resolve the allegations in this matter upon order of the Director and consent of Respondent as follows:

1. The Respondent shall complete the Reverse Osmosis Pilot Study no later than April 30, 2025.
2. The Respondent shall submit design plans and specifications for the permanent Reverse Osmosis System to the GA EPD Southwest District for approval no later than June 29, 2025.
3. The Respondent shall complete the installation of two new raw water wells no later than December 31, 2025.
4. The Respondent shall complete the installation of the permanent Reverse Osmosis System no later than May 05, 2026.
5. The Respondent shall submit written updates regarding the progress of the implementation of the above conditions to the GA EPD on a quarterly basis no later than March 31, 2025, June 30, 2025, September 30, 2025, December 31, 2025, and March 31, 2026.
6. The Respondent shall provide a notification of completion of all required conditions to GA EPD no later than May 05, 2026.

Deadlines

Time is of the essence in this Consent Order. Compliance with any deadline that falls on a Saturday, Sunday or state-recognized holiday shall be by the next business day.

Here is where this water system is:

Map: Alapaha Plantation Subdivision Water System in the WWALS map of the Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT).

This is a rather older google streetview picture of the front gate:

Entrance to Alapaha Plantation Subdivision Water System, Alapaha Plantation Subdivision Water System, Google Streetview

Images of the Consent Order are appended.

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

You can help with clean, swimmable, fishable, drinkable, water in the 10,000-square-mile Suwannee River Basin in Florida and Georgia by becoming a WWALS member today!
https://wwals.net/donations/

CO

Authority, Civil Penalty, Background
PDF

WA

WHEREAS…
PDF

COND

Conditions
PDF

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

You can help with clean, swimmable, fishable, drinkable, water in the 10,000-square-mile Suwannee River Basin in Florida and Georgia by becoming a WWALS member today!
https://wwals.net/donations/

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