Trenton city officials are pushing back on claims from a local resident who says water test samples of Town Creek show possible e coli and coliform bacteria in the tributary.
Anthony Goins told WTVC NewsChannel 9 earlier this week of his concerns about the waterway over the past year. Goins claims he’s personally seen remnants of raw sewage upstream from Trenton’s Jenkins Park and is worried of the potential health impacts of the contamination on patrons.
Goins says creek water samples were tested by the University of Georgia and came back positive for possible e coli and coliform bacteria. It’s unknown whether Goins provided those test results to the reporter for independent review.
But Trenton Mayor Alex Case and Trenton Utilities Director Dwayne Moore say they were unaware of Goins’ water test results, which apparently differ from conclusions by the Environmental Protection Agency as well as the Georgia Environmental Protection Division.
Moore says subsequent water tests conducted on Town Creek by the EPD found no such contaminants that Goins alleges.
Mayor Case does say the city is constantly pursuing state and federal grants to update the city’s aging infrastructure, but they would need anywhere from 10 to 15 million dollars to address the old water lines in need of repair.
For private landowners in Dade County who wish to update their septic or sewage system, Stephen Bontekoe of the Limestone Valley Resource and Conservation Development says grants are available which could save as much as 40% on installation costs.
For more information, click on Septic Repair Cost-Share Program (limestonevalley.org)
By: Vince Lennon