Local News
Related Photos
Discussion
Tools
Chatsworth drinking water ‘safe,’ report says
CHATSWORTH — Just two months ago Chatsworth Water Works director Tom Martin was fighting rumors that the city’s drinking water was tainted with fecal coliform after a study found waterways in the Conasauga River watershed were impaired with the bacteria.
Martin responded that the Water Works treats the water daily to kill bacteria before piping it into homes.
And it hasn’t been that long ago that residents complained of their tap water tasting funny. Martin has been on that one for four years now, beating back the algae that was causing the problem.
The most recent annual report from the Water Works states that Chatsworth’s water is “safe” and “gets an excellent report when compared to health standards.” It covers 2007 and was released earlier this month.
Martin was asked Tuesday about a section of the report on the Carters Lake water intake, which the report says has a “medium overall susceptibility rating.” The city pulls 1.6 million gallons a day from the reservoir.
“Primarily, that’s (caused by) the rivers coming through Ellijay,” Martin replied. “Algae is a problem coming from fertilizer, and our best educated concern is that the high levels of nitrates comes from fertilizer and chicken houses. It’s not from the (Pilgrim’s Pride) plant, but all the chicken houses.”
In the water analysis table of the report one of the probable sources listed for nitrates and nitrites is runoff from fertilizer use.
“The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk,” the report says.
The algae hasn’t been a problem thus far this year, and Martin and his staff have a theory.
“Our conclusion is that the water was so low last year, and rose so fast (with winter and spring rains), that the algae didn’t get a chance to bloom,” he said. The Water Works has treated the Carters Lake supply with a copper sulfate solution for four years now, and hasn’t seen a “flare up” of the algae this spring.
In the “accomplishments” section of the report, it is noted that almost 40,000 feet of new water lines have been laid in the county (33,000 in northwest Murray), and 24,000 feet of wastewater lines have been refurbished inside city limits.
A copy of the report can be picked up at the commission office at 620 S. Second Ave.
- Local News
-
-
Derby time
Owen Halman, 8, of Dalton, lines up his car “Fire Bullet” before a race during the Boy and Cub Scouts grand championship Pinewood Derby Saturday at First Presbyterian Church.
-
Helpin’ and paintin’
With his bracket busted and interest in the men’s college basketball tournament waning, Pierce Montgomery spent Saturday re-painting the Dalton home of a Vietnam veteran who couldn’t do the work himself.
-
DSC officials explain possible cuts
Dalton State College officials know the state budget cuts they planned for almost a month ago won’t be as deep as expected. What they don’t know is exactly which of the proposed cuts they’ll have to implement.
-
Higher education funding is at center of debate
More than 4,000 students, including several at Dalton State College, have banded together to push back against proposed state cuts to higher education funding.
-
Local officials view possible cuts at college with concern
Dalton State College plays a big part in plans by local leaders to grow and diversify the area’s economy, so they are viewing proposed cuts to the college with some concern.
-
Young couple awaits Habitat for Humanity home
Luis Sanchez knows how the Gutierrez family feels as they watch their house being built by the Dalton-Whitfield Habitat For Humanity.
-
Superintendent decision coming Monday night
The Richland 2 school board in Columbia, S.C., has chosen a superintendent — Whitfield County Schools superintendent Katie Brochu was one of three finalists — but won’t publicly say who it is until Monday, according to The State newspaper.
-
Area arrests for March 21
Recent arrests from the Whitfield and Murray County jail reports.
-
Marilyn Helms: Companies vary on correcting products, services
In the first half of my column on my Dalton State College quality management systems class quality “problems” project, I discussed the situations that companies did not resolve.
-
“Do You Remember?” cast announced
Members of Dalton Dance Company will perform in Dalton Arts Project’s “Do You Remember?” spring concert — a look back at the music they grew up with as well as the music enjoyed by previous generations of teenagers (now parents and grandparents).
- More Local News Headlines
-
