The South River In Poor Health

Mr. Britt sir thank you for your blog where we can send in our views without being turned away.  I have something serious to discuss being a mother of  three.
The South River that runs from Atlanta down through DeKalb, Rockdale, Henry, Newton and into Jackson Lake is a very polluted river.  The odor after the rain is like death in the air.  Atlanta releases sewerage into the river and other chemicals which flow down to us.  I would never allow my children to even go near the water for fear of bacterial disease.  My husband said he would never eat a fish from the river because he has seen some with sores on them.  I see people all the time in canoes and kayaks on the  river and they are literally taking their lives into their hands by going in the water.    I have read where Atlanta’s permit for releasing sewerage into the river was to be renewed this year and with possible extra releases.  We also heard that the EPD is dragging their feet in the matter.  I am sure they will get what they want.  Look at the Chattahoochee that flows into West Point Lake.  The river is polluted and so is the lake.  Rarely do
 people eat a fish for that lake.  But it is irresponsible for people to advertise to go and enjoy the river when they should know that it is highly polluted and dangerous.  I have heard that the river would take years to clean up even if Atlanta didn’t send anything into the river.  There are other factors like streams and creeks that lead into the river and they are heavily polluted as well.  One person we know who lives along the Snapfinger Creek in DeKalb County that flows into the South River had the water checked along his stretch.  It showed high amounts of bacteria and even high amounts of battery acid from a source up stream.  Please don’t go in the river and stay safe because your life is worth more than someone’s pipe dream.

Aleisha Conn Debray
Rockdale County, Ga.

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